Neurological soft signs

Neurological soft signs (NSS) are minor neurological signs indicating non-specific cerebral dysfunction.These can occur as as the result of developmental processes in childhood, when they often run their developmental course, with no identified organic cause and are not regarded as indicating an specific neurological disorder. They can also result from brain injury. They can be difficult to detect and the descriptor of "soft" indicates their difficulty of interpretation and unclear association with identifiable physical brain damage

These signs include:

• Dysdiadochkinesia - difficulty in performing rapid alternating movements as with fingers or hands.
• Synkinesis - where attempts to move one body part result in muscle movement elsewhere.

Link with schizophrenia

Their presence has been documented in cases of schizophrenia.

See also

• Focal neurologic signs
• Hemiballismus