Phantom Limb
The phenomenon where a person who has undergone amputation experiences sensations as if the removed limb is still present. This can include feeling sensations in a paralyzed phantom limb (with identical stimulation). Notably, even people without amputations can experience similar phenomena under certain conditions.
Causes and Solutions
- Neurological basis:
- The somatosensory cortex reorganizes, but subsequent neural pathways fail to adequately remap
- Treatment approaches:
- Mirror box therapy - provides visual feedback that reduces the phantom sensation
- Sensory feedback is crucial to break the cycle of phantom sensations
Sensory processing: The brain compares motor commands with sensory feedback - when only feedback from the last command is received due to paralysis, a negative cycle develops