The dark fantasy adventure “Alice in Wonderland” has gained widespread appreciation among audiences. However, the Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AWS), a brain-related condition, is not something anyone would ever love to experience or witness. Wondering about the AWS? Well, this rare neurological disorder disrupts how one perceives their own body, the world around them, or both. Named after the famous children’s storybook and movie, this brain-related condition makes things look or feel smaller or larger than they actually are. Willing to know more about AWS? Take a look beyond and discover for yourself.
What is Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AWS)?
“Every adventure requires a first step, and here, the first step would be knowing what Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is.” AWS is a rare condition that causes temporary episodes of distorted perception and disorientation. (1)With this condition, the patient might feel smaller or larger than they or the world around them actually are. One might also feel that the surrounding furniture or television seems to shift, appearing farther or closer than it actually is.
It should be noted that these episodes are not because of any problem with your eyes or a hallucination. Rather, they are caused by changes in how the brain perceives the environment you are in and how your body looks.
Alice in Wonderland syndrome can affect multiple senses, including touch, vision, and hearing. Sometimes you may also lose a sense of time. It might seem that time is passing more slowly or faster than you think. So, it can actually distort your sense of reality.
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is also known as Todd’s Syndrome. This is because it was first identified by Dr. John Todd, a British psychiatrist.
How Common is the Condition?
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is a pretty rare condition. Some research indicates that about 30% of teenagers experience brief episodes of AWS; however, more research is needed to confirm this estimate.
Who Does Alice in Wonderland Syndrome Affect?
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome mainly affects children and young adults. (1) Some research studies indicate that around 2/3rd of cases happen in people under age 18. In addition to children and young adults, AWS is more likely to happen in those with certain brain-related disorders.
What are Some Noted Symptoms of AWS?
Let us break down the symptoms of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome into two categories: Self-perception symptoms and Visual perception symptoms.
Self-perception symptoms
The brain plays a crucial role in regulating and coordinating all bodily functions, which keeps the body safe and healthy. However, sometimes this regulatory process may malfunction, leading to self-perception symptoms in AWS. Let us delve into the self-perception symptoms of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome.
Altered body size perception: Individuals with Alice in Wonderland Syndrome may experience distortions in the way they perceive their body parts. Sometimes, they might feel their body or body parts to be unusually larger (partial macrosomatognosia) and at other times they may feel unusually small (partial microsomatognosia). In some cases of AWS, the patient may feel their body has gone unusually tall (total macrosomatognosia), and at other times they may feel their body has gone unusually short (total microsomatognosia)
Detachment from the self: It means you feel detached from your own body, feelings, and thoughts. Individuals might describe this as feeling as if they are watching their own life from a third-person perspective.
Disconnection from reality: This is when you start feeling separated from your surrounding environment.
Illusion of the body being divided: Some individuals with AWS also report feeling as if they are split in two, or a phenomenon known as somatopsychic duality, where they feel as if they are split vertically. This, in turn, makes them feel as if the left and the right halves of their bodies exist separately, but they have retained sensation in both.
Disruption in the sense of time: Those who experience this may feel that time is totally still or as if time is running extremely slowly or extremely fast. This changes one’s ability to judge the passage of time.
Visual Perception Symptoms
People with Alice in Wonderland Syndrome experience a common symptom that alters how they interpret their surroundings. Some of the symptoms include:
Objects appearing in altered size: Objects may appear unusually smaller, also known as micropsia, or unusually larger, also known as macropsia.
Distorted sense of distance: Objects might seem closer than they truly are, also known as pelopsia, or seem farther away than they truly are, referred to as teleopsia.
Changes in object appearance: Objects can appear distorted. Lines that are level horizontally or vertically can look slanted or skewed.
Changes in both size and distance: Objects might appear as if they are reduced in size and also as if they are moving farther away, a phenomenon known as porropsia.
Miniaturized perception of people: People may see others as much smaller than they really are, a visual distortion symptom known as Lilliputianism.
What Causes Alice in Wonderland Syndrome?
The exact cause of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is not yet clear; however, doctors are working to better understand it. Scientists believe that unusual electrical activity in the brain results in an abnormal flow of blood to the parts of the brain that process your surroundings and enable visual perception. Different causes may result in such an unusual electrical activity.
A study found that 33 percent of individuals who experienced Alice in Wonderland Syndrome had infections. (2) Both head trauma and migraines were also tied to 6 percent of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome episodes. However, more than half of the cases had no notes as a cause.
Infection is considered the main cause of AWS in children. Although more research is required, migraine is considered the leading cause of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome in adults.
Some other possible causes of AWS include:
Seizures
Certain types of strokes
Mental health conditions like schizophrenia, depressive disorders, etc.
Medication: common cough medicines like dextromethorphan, or asthma medications like montelukast, and medication for anti-seizure like topiramate.
Brain tumors
Degenerative brain diseases.
Recreational drugs and inhalants.
What about the Diagnosis and Tests?
How is Alice in Wonderland Syndrome Diagnosed?
There is no specific way to diagnose the condition conclusively. That is because it is a rare and usually short-lived condition, so there are no official criteria for it. The most common way a healthcare provider will diagnose AWS is by asking you questions related to symptoms you are experiencing. Some neurological tests will also be conducted to determine whether you have any issues with other aspects of brain function.
What are the most likely tests with AWS?
Imaging Tests
Some of the most common imaging tests are computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Structural changes or other brain problems that could lead to AWS can be examined using these tests.
Spinal Tap (Lumbar Puncture)
Lab tests look for signs of infection in your cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which can help diagnose an infection that leads to Alice in Wonderland Syndrome.
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
EEG is a test that analyzes the electrical activity in your brain. It is an important test that helps in diagnosing brain-related conditions like epilepsy and seizures.
What are the Possible Treatments for Alice in Wonderland Syndrome?
The most common treatment for AWS is treating whatever is causing the condition. There are several treatments that might help with Alice in Wonderland Syndrome. Your doctor can recommend the best treatments that might help you with AWS. They can also advise you about possible complications and side effects, and what you should do to prevent or limit them.
FAQs
Is Alice in Wonderland Syndrome Contagious?
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome is not contagious. However, it can happen with infections that get spread between people.
How long does AWS last?
Depending on the cause of AWS, it can last for different durations. The condition is temporary, and its episodes might only last for minutes or hours. However, sometimes the symptoms can last longer.
Is Alice in Wonderland Syndrome the same as schizophrenia?
No, AWS and schizophrenia are different conditions. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome can happen in those with schizophrenia, but it is not common.
Why is AWS named for a fictional storybook character?
Alice in Wonderland was first described and named in 1955 by an English psychiatrist named John Todd. Todd named this condition after the main character in the 1865 storybook “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” by Lewis Carroll. (3)
In the book “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice encounters several situations where the size of objects, creatures, and even herself is all distorted. Sometimes Alice is incredibly tiny, and at other times she grows into a giant.
Conclusion
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AWS) is a rare brain-related condition that can make things you see around you appear larger or smaller, or change their position relative to you. Mostly, the condition is temporary and short-lived. However, the symptoms of Alice in Wonderland Syndrome can be disturbing. If you are experiencing symptoms, do not ignore them and consult your healthcare provider.
