Tuesday, April 29, 2008

phantom limb pain

'Virtual massage' can relieve amputees' phantom limb pain

Amputees who experience phantom limb pain could find relief in a surprisingly simple way - by paying more attention to the people around them.

Phantom limbs occur when an amputee feels the often painful sensation of touch arising from a limb that is no longer present. Working with combat veterans, Vilayanur Ramachandran, of the Center for Brain and Cognition at the University of California, San Diego, has now discovered a potential cure.

His treatment makes use of the newly discovered properties of mirror neurons. Mirror neurons fire when a person performs an intentional action - such as waving - and also when they observe someone else performing the same action. They are thought to help us predict the intentions of others by creating a "virtual reality" simulation of the action in our minds...

2 comments:

Amber said...

This was sort of amazing hor our brain is adapting itself to that area that is no longet there, It becomes dominated by another area of the body. They body is fascinating how it adapts to its limitations.

certified"BITCHES"2008 (its our year) said...

This is caused by the mind actualy wanting to have some type of sensation or feeling in that arm.