Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-b6zl4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-23T20:57:54.525Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Alien Hand Phenomena: A Review with the Addition of Six Personal Cases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

C.M. Fisher
C.M. Fisher*
Affiliation:
Neurology Service of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston MA02114, USA.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

This is a comprehensive literature review of the motor abnormalities that have come to be included under the designation of Alien Hand Phenomena (AHP). Some of the disorders are dyspractic in nature - intermanual conflict, mirror movements, interference etc., while others - groping, grasping with inability to release, utilization etc. are frontal lobe reflexes. AHP are mainly associated with two pathological processes: 1) Infarction or hemorrhage in the territory of the anterior cerebral arteries; and 2) Corticobasal degeneration. Included in the review is a description of AHPin six personal cases of corticobasal degeneration. The summary includes a short discussion of the possible anatomy of 'free will'based on AHP.

Résumé

RÉSUMÉ

Il s’agit d’une revue exhaustive de la littéture sur les anomalies motrices qui sont maintenant dégné sous le nom de "alien hand syndrome" (AHS). Certaines des affections sont d’une nature dyspraxique conflits intermanuels, mouvements en miroir, interfénce etc., alors que d’autres ' tânnement, prénsion avec incapacitée relâer, utilisation etc. sont des réexes du lobe frontal. L’AHS est associérincipalement àeux processus pathologiques: 1) L’infarctus ou l’hérragie dans le territoire des artès cébrales antéeures et 2) la dénéscence corticobasale. Une description de six cas personnels d’AHS dus àne dénéscence corticobasale est jointe àa revue. Le sommaire comprend une courte discussion du fondement anatomique probable de l’action volontaire sur la base du AHS.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , August 2000 , pp. 192 - 203
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2000

References

1. Akelaitis, AJ. Studies on the corpus callosum IV. Diagonist dyspraxia in epileptics following partial and complete section of the corpus callosum. Am J Psychiatry 1944;101:594–599.Google Scholar
2. Gazzaniga, MS, Bogen, JE, Sperry, RW. Some functional effects of sectioning the cerebral commissures in man. Proc Natl Acad Sci 1962;48:1765–1769.Google Scholar
3. Fisher, CM. Symmetrical mirror movements and left ideomotor apraxia. Tran Am Neurol Assoc 1963;88:214–216.Google Scholar
4. Schaltenbrand, G. Discussion. In: Cerebral Localization and Organization. Schaltenbrand, G, Woolsey, CN. eds. Madison, University of Wisconsin Press, 1964.Google Scholar
5. Sperry, EW, Gazzaniga, MS, Bogen, JE. Interhemispheric relationships: neocortical commissures; syndromes of hemispheric disconnection. In: Handbook of Clinical Neurology. Vinken, PJ, Bruyn, GW. eds. Amsterdam, North Holland. 1969; 4: 273–290.Google Scholar
6. Brion, S, Jedynak, CP. Troubles du transfert interhémisphérique (callosal disconnection) a propos de 3 observations de tumeurs du corps calleux. Le signe de la main étrangère. Rev Neurol 1972;126:257–266.Google Scholar
7. Bogen, JE. The callosal syndrome. In: Clinical Neuropsychology, Heilman, KM and Valenstein, EV. eds. Oxford University Press, 1979: 308–359.Google Scholar
8. Wilson, DH, Reeves, A, Gazzaniga, M, Culver, C. Cerebral commissurotomy for control of intractable seizures. Neurology 1977;27:708–715.Google Scholar
9. Joynt, RJ. Inattention syndromes in split-brain man. In: Hemi-Inattention and Hemispheric Specialization. Weinstein, EA and Friedland, RP. eds. New York: Raven, 1977.Google Scholar
10. Barbizet, J, Degos, JD, Lejeune, A, Leroy, A. Syndrome de dysconnection interhémisphérique avec dyspraxie diagonistique au cours d’une maladie de Marchiafava-Bignami. Rev Neurol 1978;134:781–789.Google Scholar
11. Beukelman, DR, Flowers, CR, Swanson, PD. Cerebral disconnection associated with anterior communicating artery aneurysm: implications for evaluation of symptoms. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1980;61:18–23.Google Scholar
12. Goldberg, G, Mayer, NH, Toglia, U. Medial frontal cortex infarction and the alien hand sign. Arch Neurol 1981;38:683–686.Google Scholar
13. Mori, E, Yamadori, A. Compulsive manipulation of tools and pathological grasp phenomenon. Clin Neurol (Japanese) 1982;22:329–335.Google Scholar
14. Gelmers, HJ. Non-paralytic motor disturbances and speech disorders: the role of the supplementary motor area. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1983;46:1052–1054.Google Scholar
15. Watson, RT, Heilman, KM. Callosal apraxia. Brain 1983;106:391–403.Google Scholar
16. Banks, G, Short, MPA, Boller, F, Kowal, CD, Ratcliff, G. Alien hand syndrome (AHS): role of callosal and frontal lobe lesions. Neurology 1984;34(suppl 1):86.Google Scholar
17. Goldenberg, G, Wimmer, A, Holzner, F, Wessely, P. Apraxia of the left limbs in a case of callosal disconnection: the contribution of medial frontal lobe damage. Cortex 1985;21:135–148.Google Scholar
18. Watson, RT, Fleet, WS, Gonzalez-Rothi, L. Heilman, KM. Apraxia and the supplementary motor area. Arch Neurol 1986;43:787–792.Google Scholar
19. Levin, HS, Goldstein, FC, Ghostine, SY, et al. Hemispheric disconnection syndrome persisting after anterior cerebral artery aneurysm rupture. Neurosurgery 1987;21:831–838.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
20. McNabb, AW, Carroll, WM, Mastaglia, FL. “Alien hand” and loss of bimanual coordination after dominant anterior cerebral artery territory infarction. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1988;51:218–222.Google Scholar
21. Leiguarda, R, Starkstein, S, Berthier, M. Anterior callosal hemorrhage. A partial interhemispheric disconnection syndrome. Brain 1989;112:1019–1037.Google Scholar
22. Loring, WD, Meador, KJ, Lee, GP. Differential-handed response to verbal and visual spatial stimuli: evidence of specialized hemispheric processing following callosotomy. Neuropsychologia 1989;27:811–827.Google Scholar
23. Tanaka, Y, Iwasa, H, Yoshida, M. Diagonistic dyspraxia: case report and movement related potentials. Neurology 1990;40:657–661.Google Scholar
24. Della Sala, S, Marchetti, C, Spinnler, H. Right-sided anarchic (alien) hand: a longitudinal study. Neuropsychologia 1991;29:1113–1127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25. Gottlieb, D, Robb, K, Day, B. Mirror movements in the alien hand syndrome. Amer J Phys Med Rehabil 1992;71:297–300.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26. Feinberg, TE, Schindler, RJ, Flanagan, NG, Haber, LD. Two alien hand syndromes. Neurology 1992;42:19–24.Google Scholar
27. Trojano, L, Crisci, C, Lenzillo, B, Elefante, R, Caruso, G. How many alien hand syndromes? Follow-up of a case. Neurology 1993;43:2710–2712.Google Scholar
28. Papagno, C, Marsile, C. Transient left-sided alien hand with callosal and unilateral fronto-mesial damage: a case study. Neuropsychologia 1995;33:1703–1709.Google Scholar
29. Giroud, M, Dumas, R. Clinical and topographical range of callosal infarction: a clinical and radiological correlation. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1995;59:238–242.Google Scholar
30. Liepmann, H. Der Krankheit der apraxie, motorischen asymbolie. Monatschr Psychiatrie Neurol 1900;11:15–44, 102–132, 182–197.Google Scholar
31. Goldstein, K. Zur lehre von der motorischen apraxie. Z Psychol Neurol 1908; 11:169–187.Google Scholar
32. Sweet, WH. Seeping intracranial aneurysm simulating neoplasm syndrome of the corpus callosum. Arch Neurol Psychiatry 1941;45:86–104.Google Scholar
33. Braunmühl, A. Uber Stammganglien Veränderung bei Pickschen Krankheit. Z Neurol Psychiatry 1930;24:214–221.Google Scholar
34. Aronson, SM, Aranson, BE. Clinical Neuropathological Conference Dis Nervous System 1973;34:124–130.Google Scholar
35. Cambier, J, Masson, M, Dairou, R, Henin, D. Étude anatomo-clinique d’une form parietale de maladie de Pick. Rev Neuro 1981;137:33–38.Google Scholar
36. Kertesz, A. Frontotemporal dementia, Pick’s disease and corticobasal degeneration. One entity or three? Arch Neurol 1997;54:1427–1429.Google Scholar
37. Rebeiz, JJ, Kolodny, EH, Richardson, EP Jr. Corticodentatonigral degeneration with neuronal achromasia. Arch Neurol 1968;18:20–33.Google Scholar
38. Rebeiz, JJ, Kolodny, EH, Richardson, EP Jr. Corticodentatonigral degeneration with neuronal achromasia: a progressive disorder of late adult life. Trans Am Neurol Assoc 1967;92:23–26.Google ScholarPubMed
39. Sunohara, N, Mano, Y, Muramoto, O, Ando, K, Satoyoshi, E. Apraxia-rigidity syndrome. Clin Neurol 1981;21:587–596 (In Japanese)Google Scholar
40. Riley, DE, Lang, AE. Corticobasal ganglionic degeneration (CBGD): further observations on six additional cases. Neurology 1988;38:(suppl 1):360.Google Scholar
41. Gibb, WRG, Luthert, PJ, Marsden, CD. Corticobasal degeneration. Brain 1989;112:1171–1192.Google Scholar
42. Riley, DE, Lang, AE, Lewis, A, et al. Cortical-basal ganglionic degeneration. Neurology 1990;40:1203–1212.Google Scholar
43. Sawle, GV, Brooks, DJ, Marsden, CD, Frackowiak, RSJ. Corticobasal degeneration. Brain 1991;114:541–556.Google Scholar
44. Doody, RS, Jankovic, J. The alien hand and related signs. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1992;55:806–810.Google Scholar
45. Rinne, JO, Lee, MS, Thompson, PD, Marsden, CD. Corticobasal degeneration. A clinical study of 36 cases. Brain 1994;117:1183–1196.Google Scholar
46. Kompoliti, K, Goetz, CG, Boeve, BF, et al. Clinical presentation and pharmacologic therapy in corticobasal degeneration. Arch Neurol 1998;55:957–961.Google Scholar
47. Boeve, BF, Maraganore, DM, Parisi, JE, et al. Pathologic heterogeneity in clinically diagnosed corticobasal degeneration. Neurology 1999;53:795–800.Google Scholar
48. Graham, NL, Zeman, A, Young, AW, Patterson, K, Hodges, JR. Dyspraxia in a patient with corticobasal degeneration: the role of visual and tactile inputs to action. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1999;67:334–344.Google Scholar
49. Hanna, P, Vanek, ZF, Jankovic, J. Alien limb in cortical-basal ganglionic degeneration. Neurology 1999;52(suppl 2):A226.Google Scholar
50. Lhermitte, J, Lévy, G, Kyriako, N. Les perturbations de la représentation spatiale chez les apraxiques - a propos de deux cas cliniques d’apraxie. Rev Neurol 1925;2:586–600.Google Scholar
51. Lhermitte, J, Trelles, JO. Sur l’apraxie pure constructive. Encéphale 1933;28:413–444.Google Scholar
52. Levine, DN, Rinne, WE. Opticosensory ataxia and alien hand syndrome after posterior cerebral artery territory infarction. Neurology 1986;36:1094–1097.Google Scholar
53. Ventura, MG, Goldman, S, Hildebrand, S. Alien hand syndrome without a corpus callosum lesion. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1995;58:735–737.Google Scholar
54. Ay, H, Buonanno, FS, Price, BH, Le, AD, Koroshetz, WJ. Sensory alien hand syndrome: case report and review of the literature. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1998;65:366–369.Google Scholar
55. Rubboli, G, Gardella, E, Meletti, S, et al. Hand forced grasping and the ‘alien hand syndrome’ in a patient with a frontomesial lesion: video-EEG/stereo-EEG correlation. Epilepsia 1998;39(suppl 2):64.Google Scholar
56. Leiguarda, R, Starkstein, S. Nogués M, Berthier M, Arbelaiz R. Paroxysmal alien hand syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1998;65:366–369.Google Scholar
57. Andre, C, Domingues R. Transient alien hand syndrome: is this a seizure or a transient ischaemic attack? Letter to Editor. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1997;63:232–233.Google Scholar
58. Dolado, AM, Castrillo, C, Urra, DG, DeSeijas, EV. Alien hand sign or alien hand syndrome? J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 1995;59:100–101.Google Scholar
59. Libet, B. Neural time factors in conscious and unconscious mental functions. In: Toward a Science of Consciousness II. Hameroff, SR, Kasziak, AW, Scott, AC, Cambridge, MA. eds. The Second Tucson Discussion and Debates. MIT Press 1998. Chapter 25.Google Scholar