Question

What is responsible for the phantom limb experience?

   What is responsible for the phantom limb experience?

Biological Psychology

Biological Psychology

James W. Kalat 13th Edition

Chapter 4, Problem 33

Instant Answer

Solved by Expert Samia Islam

10/09/2020

Step 1

Phantom limb syndrome is a condition where an amputee can still feel the presence of the lost appendage, even though it's physically not there. This is due to the plasticity of the somatosensory cortex. Show more…

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What is responsible for the phantom limb experience?

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Key Concepts

Neural Plasticity

Neural plasticity refers to the brain's ability to change and adapt its structure and function in response to new experiences or injuries. After limb loss, the brain often rearranges its neural circuits, which can result in the sensation of a missing limb still being present.

Cortical Remapping

Cortical remapping is the process where regions of the brain that previously represented the missing limb are taken over by adjacent areas. This reorganization within the somatosensory and motor cortices can generate sensations and perceptions, contributing to the phantom limb experience.

Neuromatrix Theory

The neuromatrix theory proposes that the brain has a network responsible for generating the experience of the body. Even in the absence of sensory inputs from a lost limb, this brain network can produce a sense of the limb's presence, which underlies the phenomenon of phantom limb sensations.

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