Alice in Wonderland syndrome

Alice in Wonderland syndrome, also known as Todd's syndrome or dysmetropsia, is a neurological disorder that distorts a person's perception of their surroundings. People affected by it can experience visual distortions in which objects appear smaller than they are, known as micropsia, or larger than they are, known as macropsia, and objects can seem closer or farther away than their true distance, described respectively as pelopsia and teleopsia. The distortion is not limited to vision and can affect other senses as well. The exact cause of the syndrome is not established, but it has been associated with migraines, head trauma, and viral encephalitis linked to Epstein-Barr virus infection. One theory holds that it arises from abnormal electrical activity in the brain that disrupts blood flow in the regions responsible for processing visual perception and texture. Episodes have also been reported temporarily during the use of certain psychoactive drugs. Although the syndrome can occur in both adolescents and adults, it is reported more commonly in children.