What disturbance in cognitive functioning manifests as a poverty of speech?

Alogia is characterized by a noticeable reduction in the quantity or content of speech. This cognitive disturbance often manifests as a poverty of speech, meaning the individual's ability to communicate is significantly diminished, leading to brief and unelaborated responses. Alogia is frequently observed in various psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia or major depressive disorder, where the person's thought process is disrupted.

In contrast, insight refers to an individual's awareness and understanding of their mental health condition, which does not directly relate to speech production. Agnosia involves difficulties in recognizing objects or people despite intact sensory function, affecting perception rather than speech. Apraxia is a motor disorder that impacts the ability to perform purposeful movements, which is also distinct from issues with verbal communication. Thus, alogia specifically addresses the disturbance in cognitive functioning that presents as a poverty of speech, making it the correct choice.