REVIEW ARTICLE
THE NEUROLOGICAL PHENOMENON OF ALICE IN WONDERLAND SYNDROME
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Collegium Pharmaceuticum, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
Submission date: 2025-06-24
Final revision date: 2025-07-11
Acceptance date: 2025-07-12
Publication date: 2025-11-26
Corresponding author
Hanna Marciniak
Collegium Pharmaceuticum, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
Issue Rehabil. Orthop. Neurophysiol. Sport Promot. 2025;50(1):37-45
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ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Alice in Wonderland Syndrome (AIWS) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by distortions in the perception of size, time, and spatial relationships. Named after Lewis Carroll’s novel, the condition has been known since the 1950s, yet its underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. AIWS is frequently associated with migraine, epilepsy, and viral infections.
Aim:
The aim of this paper was to provide a comprehensive review of AIWS, including its pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, potential causes, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies.
Material and Methods:
This review is based on scientific literature, including 17 epidemiological studies and case reports. It also incorporates neuroimaging data and symptom assessment scales.
Results:
The most common symptoms of AIWS include micropsia and macropsia, altered time perception, derealization, and depersonalization. Micropsia was reported in 73% of cases. The condition is more commonly diagnosed in children, with a mean onset age of 8.3 years. Migraines were present in 90% of patients. Treatment involves pharmacotherapy (e.g., triptans, antiepileptics, SSRIs) and non-pharmacological methods, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Conclusions:
AIWS is a complex disorder that requires further research to better understand its pathophysiology and optimize treatment strategies. Neuroimaging studies suggest the involvement of occipital and temporal lobes and dysregulation of neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin, dopamine, and GABA. Due to the variability and transient nature of symptoms, AIWS is often underdiagnosed. Effective management should address the underlying condition—most commonly migraine—and include psychological support when psychiatric comorbidities are present.