Simultaneous Doppelgänger and limb amputation impression in right frontal opercular stroke

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurology
• Clinical Case Study

Background:

• Body schema disorders, such as phantom limb sensation and hallucinations of doubles, are typically associated with parietal lobe lesions.
• These disorders involve disruptions in the brain's representation of the body and self.

Observation:

• A patient presented with simultaneous symptoms of left arm amputation sensation and the presence of an invisible doppelgänger.
• Neurological examination revealed a right frontal opercular ischemic stroke.

Findings:

• Diffusion tensor imaging identified the stroke's involvement of the ventral bundle of the superior longitudinal fasciculus.
• This pathway connects the parietal and frontal lobes, crucial for integrating sensory and cognitive information.

Implications:

• The findings suggest that frontal lobe lesions, particularly affecting the superior longitudinal fasciculus, can induce complex body schema disorders.
• This case highlights a potential 'diaschisis'-like phenomenon, where a focal lesion in one brain area causes functional disturbances in a distant, connected area.