Alien Hand Syndrome

    Also known as Dr. Strangelove Syndrome, Alien Hand Syndrome (AHS) is a mental disorder in which a person loses control of his or her hand. A person with this condition can feel sensation normally, but has no control of it or knowledge of its actions; it is like the hand is possessed by an alien.

    Actions of the hand can range anywhere from touching one’s face, to punching or choking the sufferer. The results of these actions are viewed less of a medical threat and more of a nuisance/embarrassment for the sufferer.

    Alien Hand Syndrome has come up only after a stroke or infection of the brain. That being said, different brain injuries cause different types of this disorder. For example, a brain injury to the left side of the brain might result in questionable circumstances in the right hand. An injury to the frontal lobe might trigger grasping and similar movements in the dominant hand. Like all things involving the human body, it varies from person to person.

    As of late, there is no known treatment for Alien Hand. The best way to control the problem is to keep said hand busy doing other tasks. Because of the extreme rarity of this disorder (40 to 50 recorded cases since 1909), research has not been exactly abundant. That is why there is such a lack of information and treatment.