Two Arms, Three Hands -- A Supernumerary Phantom Phenomenon after Right Middle Cerebral Artery Stroke
Andrew D. Worthington, Lisa Beevers
Neurocase March 1, 1996 DOI: 10.1080/13554799608404026 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | A patient (MP) who sustained a right middle cerebral artery infarct |
| Citations | 13 |
| Key findings | Describes a patient who developed a belief in a supernumerary phantom left hand after a right middle cerebral artery infarct, a belief the authors say could not be attributed to more general intellectual or perceptual disturbance. Comparing this case with previously reported cases, the authors identify shared features with implications for classification, while emphasizing that idiosyncratic psychological factors may also contribute. |
Abstract
The subjective experience of supernumerary phantom limb is a complex cognitive and perceptual distortion which is occasionally reported after right hemisphere lesions. Following a report by Halligan and colleagues, published in 1993, we describe the case of another patient, MP, who sustained a right middle cerebral artery infarct and subsequently developed a belief in the existence of a supernumerary phantom left hand, which could not be attributed to more general intellectual or perceptual disturbance. In comparison with previously reported cases a number of common features emerged from MP with taxonomic implications. However, the need to consider the contributory role of idiosyncratic psychological factors is also emphasized.