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Sattin D, Parma C, Lunetta C, Zulueta A, Lanzone J, Giani L, Vassallo M, Picozzi M, Parati EA. An Overview of the Body Schema and Body Image: Theoretical Models, Methodological Settings and Pitfalls for Rehabilitation of Persons with Neurological Disorders. Brain Sci 2023; 13:1410. [PMID: 37891779 PMCID: PMC10605253 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13101410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Given the widespread debate on the definition of the terms "Body Schema" and "Body Image", this article presents a broad overview of the studies that have investigated the nature of these types of body representations, especially focusing on the innovative information about these two representations that could be useful for the rehabilitation of patients with different neurological disorders with motor deficits (especially those affecting the upper limbs). In particular, we analyzed (i) the different definitions and explicative models proposed, (ii) the empirical settings used to test them and (iii) the clinical and rehabilitative implications derived from the application of interventions on specific case reports. The growing number of neurological diseases with motor impairment in the general population has required the development of new rehabilitation techniques and a new phenomenological paradigm placing body schema as fundamental and intrinsic parts for action in space. In this narrative review, the focus was placed on evidence from the application of innovative rehabilitation techniques and case reports involving the upper limbs, as body parts particularly involved in finalistic voluntary actions in everyday life, discussing body representations and their functional role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Sattin
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Health Directorate, Via Camaldoli 64, 20138 Milan, Italy; (D.S.); (M.V.)
| | - Chiara Parma
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Health Directorate, Via Camaldoli 64, 20138 Milan, Italy; (D.S.); (M.V.)
| | - Christian Lunetta
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department-ALS Unit, Via Camaldoli 64, 20138 Milan, Italy;
| | - Aida Zulueta
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Labion, Via Camaldoli 64, 20138 Milan, Italy;
| | - Jacopo Lanzone
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department, Via Camaldoli 64, 20138 Milan, Italy; (J.L.); (L.G.); (E.A.P.)
| | - Luca Giani
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department, Via Camaldoli 64, 20138 Milan, Italy; (J.L.); (L.G.); (E.A.P.)
| | - Marta Vassallo
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Health Directorate, Via Camaldoli 64, 20138 Milan, Italy; (D.S.); (M.V.)
- Center for Clinical Ethics, Biotechnology and Life Sciences Department, Insubria University, 21100 Varese, Italy;
| | - Mario Picozzi
- Center for Clinical Ethics, Biotechnology and Life Sciences Department, Insubria University, 21100 Varese, Italy;
| | - Eugenio Agostino Parati
- Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Department, Via Camaldoli 64, 20138 Milan, Italy; (J.L.); (L.G.); (E.A.P.)
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Saito G, Takagi G. Multisensory perceptual distortion including auditory distortions in Alice in Wonderland syndrome: a case report. Neurocase 2023; 29:46-49. [PMID: 38678303 DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2024.2345402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a rare perceptual disorder characterized mainly by perceptual distortions of visual objects and one's own body. While there are many case reports of visual and somatosensory distortions associated with AIWS, little is known about auditory distortion. Therefore, we present the case of a 22-year-old right-handed woman who described having auditory as well as visual and somatosensory distortion experiences and a family history of AIWS. The subject reported experiencing multisensory perceptual distortions, where she sees other people's faces as larger and hears their voices as louder at the same time. This particular case suggests that auditory distortion - which contributes to constructing the perception of the surrounding space and the body - may also be characterized as a perceptual symptom of AIWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godai Saito
- Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Arts and Letters, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Gen Takagi
- Faculty of Comprehensive Welfare, Tohoku Fukushi University, Sendai, Japan
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Hossain MM. Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS): a research overview. AIMS Neurosci 2020; 7:389-400. [PMID: 33263077 PMCID: PMC7701374 DOI: 10.3934/neuroscience.2020024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a rare neuropsychiatric condition characterized by distorted visual perceptions, body schema, and experience of time. A global overview of research on AIWS can inform future developments and clinical practice in this field. This bibliometric study aimed to analyze the characteristics of the global research landscape on AIWS. METHODS Bibliometric data on AIWS related publications published until 2019 were retrieved from the Web of Science database. The data were analyzed using statistical and scientometric tools to evaluate the publication trends, key research domains, top contributing journals, institutions, and countries associated with AIWS-related research. RESULTS A total of 125 published items were analyzed with a mean of 3 authors and 8.15 citations per document. Most articles were published after 2008, in medical journals focused on neuropsychiatric sciences, and most institutions affiliated with AIWS research were based on high-income countries. Major research domains associated with AIWS included visual disturbances, body image, migraine, infections, risk factors, and other clinical correlates. Several overarching domains were identified; however, clinical research on diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of AIWS is relatively limited. CONCLUSION The current research landscape informs a developing trend in AIWS research in selected regions and specialties. Future research should emphasize multidisciplinary and translational investigations on clinical and epidemiological areas through global collaborations that may advance the knowledge and practice on AIWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mahbub Hossain
- Nature Study Society of Bangladesh, Khulna 09000, Bangladesh
- EviSyn Health, Khulna 09000, Bangladesh
- Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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Lenka A, Gomathinayagam V, Bahroo L. Approach to the management of psychosis in Parkinson’s disease. ANNALS OF MOVEMENT DISORDERS 2019. [DOI: 10.4103/aomd.aomd_27_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Primary care challenges of an obscure case of "Alice in Wonderland" syndrome in a patient with severe malaria in a resource-constrained setting: a case report. BMC Infect Dis 2017; 17:789. [PMID: 29272995 PMCID: PMC5740918 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-017-2918-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND "Alice in Wonderland" syndrome (AIWS) is a rare neurological abnormality characterized by distortions of visual perceptions, body schema and experience of time. AIWS has been reported in patients with various infections such as infectious mononucleosis, H1N1 influenza, Cytomegalovirus encephalitis, and typhoid encephalopathy. However, AIWS occurring in a patient with severe malaria is less familiar and could pose serious primary care challenges in a low-income context. CASE PRESENTATION A 9-year-old male of black African ethnicity was brought by his parents to our primary care hospital because for 2 days he had been experiencing intermittent sudden perceptions of his parents' heads and objects around him either "shrinking" or "expanding". The visual perceptions were usually brief and resolved spontaneously. One week prior to the onset of the visual problem, he had developed an intermittent high grade fever that was associated with other severe constitutional symptoms. Based on the historical and clinical data that were acquired, severe malaria was suspected and this was confirmed by hyperparasitaemia on blood film analysis. The patient was treated with quinine for 10 days. Apart from a single episode of generalized tonic-clonic seizures that was observed on the first day of treatment, the overall clinical progress was good. The visual illusions completely resolved and no further abnormalities were recorded during 3 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION Symptoms of AIWS usually resolve spontaneously or after treatment of an underlying cause. In our case, the successful treatment of severe malaria coincided with a complete regression of AIWS whose aetiology was poorly-elucidated given the resource constraints. In any case, the good outcome of our patient aligns with previous reports on acute AIWS that highlight a limited need for excessive investigation and treatment modalities which are, in passing, predominantly unaffordable in resource-limited primary care settings.
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Tunç S, Başbuğ HS. Alice in Wonderland syndrome: a strange visual perceptual disturbance. PSYCHIAT CLIN PSYCH 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/24750573.2017.1354655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Serhat Tunç
- Department of Psychiatry, Kafkas University Faculty of Medicine, Kars, Turkey
| | - Hamit Serdar Başbuğ
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kafkas University Faculty of Medicine, Kars, Turkey
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O'Toole P, Modestino EJ. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome: A real life version of Lewis Carroll's novel. Brain Dev 2017; 39:470-474. [PMID: 28189272 DOI: 10.1016/j.braindev.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Revised: 01/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome was originally coined by Dr. John Todd in 1955. The syndrome is named after the sensations experienced by the character Alice in Lewis Carroll's novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome consists of metamorphopsia (seeing something in a distorted fashion), bizarre distortions of their body image, and bizarre perceptual distortions of form, size, movement or color. Additionally, patients with Alice in Wonderland Syndrome can experience auditory hallucinations and changes in their perception of time. Currently, there is no known specific cause of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome. However, theories point to infections such as the Epstein-Barr virus, medications such as topiramate and associated migraines. Neuroimaging studies have revealed brain regions involved with the manifestation of symptoms. These include the temporo-parietal junction within the temporal lobe and the visual pathway, specifically the occipital lobe. There are no current treatments for Alice in Wonderland Syndrome. Further research is needed to find better treatments for Alice in Wonderland Syndrome and to elucidate the exact cause or causes of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick O'Toole
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, United States.
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Zmigrod L, Garrison JR, Carr J, Simons JS. The neural mechanisms of hallucinations: A quantitative meta-analysis of neuroimaging studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 69:113-23. [PMID: 27473935 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.05.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of functional neuroimaging data was used to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying auditory-verbal and visual hallucinations (AVHs and VHs). Consistent activation across studies during AVHs, but not VHs, in Wernicke's and Broca's areas is consistent with involvement of speech and language processes in the experience of hearing voices when none are present. Similarly, greater activity in auditory cortex during AVHs and in visual cortex during VHs supports models proposing over-stimulation of sensory cortices in the generation of these perceptual anomalies. Activation across studies in the medial temporal lobe highlights a role for memory intrusions in the provision of content for AVHs, whereas insula activation may relate to the involvement of awareness and self-representation. Finally, activation in the paracingulate region of medial prefrontal cortex during AVHs is consistent with models implicating reality monitoring impairment in the misattribution of self-generated information as externally perceived. In the light of the results, the need for unified theoretical frameworks that account for the full range of hallucinatory experiences is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leor Zmigrod
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural & Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Jane R Garrison
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural & Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Joseph Carr
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural & Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, UK
| | - Jon S Simons
- Department of Psychology and Behavioural & Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, UK.
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Abstract
Purpose of review: To summarize the literature on Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS), a disorder characterized by distortions of visual perception, the body schema, and the experience of time. Recent findings: On the basis of 169 published case descriptions, the etiology of AIWS is divided into 8 main groups, with neurologic disorders affecting mostly adults and elderly patients and encephalitides affecting mostly patients aged ≤18 years. Symptoms of AIWS are also experienced in the general population, with up to 30% of adolescents reporting nonclinical symptoms. Summary: In clinical cases of AIWS, auxiliary investigations (including blood tests, EEG, and brain MRI) are strongly advised. Treatment should be directed at the suspected underlying condition, although reassurance that the symptoms themselves are not harmful seems to suffice in about 50% of the cases. International classifications such as the DSM and ICD should consider placing the syndrome on their research agenda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Dirk Blom
- Parnassia Psychiatric Institute, The Hague; Leiden University, Leiden; and Department of Psychiatry, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Weissenstein A, Luchter E, Bittmann MAS. Alice in Wonderland syndrome: A rare neurological manifestation with microscopy in a 6-year-old child. J Pediatr Neurosci 2015; 9:303-4. [PMID: 25624952 PMCID: PMC4302569 DOI: 10.4103/1817-1745.147612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Weissenstein
- Department of Pediatrics, Ped Mind Institute, Medical and Finance Center, Epe, Gronau, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Luchter
- Department of Pediatrics, Ped Mind Institute, Medical and Finance Center, Epe, Gronau, Germany
| | - M A Stefan Bittmann
- Department of Pediatrics, Ped Mind Institute, Medical and Finance Center, Epe, Gronau, Germany
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van Lutterveld R, Diederen KMJ, Koops S, Begemann MJH, Sommer IEC. The influence of stimulus detection on activation patterns during auditory hallucinations. Schizophr Res 2013; 145:27-32. [PMID: 23375942 DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2013.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2012] [Revised: 01/02/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neuroimaging studies investigating auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) have revealed involvement of several cortical structures. These findings may however be biased by brain activity related to stimulus detection and motor processes associated with the task to indicate the presence of AVH. Disentangling brain activation specifically related to AVH and to additional cognitive processes may help focus on the true neuronal substrates of AVH and strengthen the development of new focal treatment strategies. METHODS Brain activation during AVH as indicated by button press was compared to brain activation during auditory stimulus detection indicated by button press. We performed two neuroimaging meta-analyses, assessing 10 AVH and 11 auditory stimulus detection studies. A random-effects activation likelihood estimation was performed using GingerALE to assess commonalities and differences across AVH and stimulus detection studies. RESULTS Activity in the claustrum, pulvinar area, medial geniculum body, pyramis, culmen, putamen, insula, and parahippocampal, medial frontal, precentral, postcentral, superior temporal and right inferior frontal gyri was found to be specifically related to AVH. The pars opercularis of the left inferior frontal gyrus and the left transverse temporal gyrus were activated to a similar extent during AVH and auditory stimulus detection. DISCUSSION Development of new focal treatment strategies for AVH may focus on the areas uniquely activated in the AVH analysis. The pars opercularis and the transverse temporal gyrus may not be directly involved in the experience of AVH itself, but rather in auditory stimulus detection.
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