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There are many research methods available to psychologists in their efforts to understand, describe, and explain behavior and the cognitive and biological processes that underlie it.

Somatosensation

Somatosensation

The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.

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Atypical sensory alien hand syndrome: a case study.

Jeremy Hertza¹, Andrew S Davis, Mark Barisa

¹Department of Behavioral Medicine, Walton Rehabilitation Hospital, Augusta, Georgia 30901, USA. Jhertza2@yahoo.com

Applied Neuropsychology. Adult

|March 6, 2012

Summary

Alien hand syndrome involves strange sensations or uncontrolled movements in an extremity, often the left hand. Neuropsychological assessment is crucial for diagnosing this rare neurological condition following a stroke.

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Area of Science:

Neurology
Neuropsychology

Background:

Alien hand syndrome (AHS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by a limb, typically a hand, acting without the person's conscious control.
Common etiologies include stroke affecting specific cerebral arteries (e.g., middle cerebral artery) or neurodegenerative conditions like cortical-basal degeneration.

Observation:

Presents a case study of an elderly female experiencing alien hand syndrome affecting her right hand after a left middle cerebral artery stroke.
Details medical history and comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation of the patient.

Findings:

Neuroimaging confirmed a left middle cerebral artery stroke.
Neuropsychological assessment identified significant deficits in visual-perceptual abilities and right-sided motor and sensory functions.
These findings correlated with the neuroimaging results, pinpointing the affected brain regions.

Implications:

Highlights the critical role of detailed neuropsychological assessment in diagnosing and understanding complex neurological presentations like alien hand syndrome.
Emphasizes the link between specific cerebrovascular events and the manifestation of AHS.
Underscores the value of integrating neuroimaging and neuropsychological data for comprehensive patient evaluation.