Serendip is an independent site partnering with faculty at multiple colleges and universities around the world. Happy exploring!

Home › Sensory input and synaptic integration: implications ›

Reply to comment

Molly Pieri's picture

Phantom limbs and mirrors...

Submitted by Molly Pieri on Sun, 03/02/2008 - 5:29pm.

I read that some people who experience phantom limbs use mirrors to alleviate symptoms (itching, discomfort etc.) For more on the subject... http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/21/2206. From what I understand, a person using this technique for dealing with phantom limb discomfort sets up a mirror to reflect his/her remaining limb where the amputated limb would have been (thus giving a visual existence to the phantom limb), and scratching/massaging/whatever-ing the existing limb. I've read that this only only will "scratch the itch" in the phantom limb, but also in some cases cause the sensations of the phantom limb to stop all together.

I wonder how the idea of phantom limbs being treated by "tricking" the brain in this way plays into what we've been discussing in class...

Reply

To prevent automated spam submissions leave this field empty.
5 + 8 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.

Remote Ready Biology Learning Activities

Scanning electron microscope image of SARS-CoV-2

Remote Ready Biology Learning Activities has 50 remote-ready activities, which work for either your classroom or remote teaching.

Narrative is determined not by a desire to narrate but by a desire to exchange. (Roland Barthes, S/Z)

What's New? Subscribe to Serendip Studio