Phantom Limbs, Phantom Pain, And The Essay -- Biology Essays Research

Phantom Limbs, Phantom Pain, And The I-Function The so-called I-function which describes the brains sense of self takes on interesting connotations when discussing phantom subdivisions and associated phantom pain. The loss of an arm or leg through amputation is not an easy experience to endure, and is even much difficult when the patient begins to feel sensations in their now missing limb. These feelings, roughtimes referred to as stump hallucination, is the subjective sensation, not arising from an external stimulus, that an amputated limb is quiesce present (1). Although they no longer exist, patients perceive these limbs as still being essential components of their body- cipher, and continues to move in sync with their torso and early(a) limbs. For some amputees, these phantom sensations may be no more than painless distractions of pressure, warmth, and cold that do not interfere with their everyday lives. But for the majority of amputees, about 50% to 80% (2), they experi ence phantom pains that transmute in classification from cramping, burning, tingling, shocking, shooting and stabbing pains. These episodes are severe adequate to interfere with work, sleep and normal function and do require some kind of treatment. Phantom pain can occur anytime, from immediately subsequently an amputation to several years later. The powerful impression of a stable, embodied self is taken for granted. But its an perception thats possible only because of the body image created by the brain. A significant element of that image is a psychogenic map of the body surface, generated by the cortex using the sensory signals it receives from the skin. new(prenominal) regions of the cortex control other components, such as the position of muscles and joints (proprioception),... ...http//www.bfe.org/ protocol/pro05eng.htm3)THEY DO IT WITH MIRRORS , From New Scientist http//infotrac.galegroup.com/itweb/brynmawr_main?http_rc=400&class=session&sev=temp& fount=session&cause=h ttp%3A%2F%2Fweb1.infotrac.galegroup.com%2Fitw%2Finfomark%2F805%2F448%2F25790840w3%2Fpurl%3Drc1_EAIM_0_A63676311%26dyn%3D4ar_fmt%3Fsw_aep%3Dbrynmawr_main&cont=&msg=No+Session+cookies&sserv=no4) Harris, J. A. cortical Origin of Pathological Pain. in Lancet, vol. 354 (pg. 1464-1466) 19995)Scientific American, Ronald Melzack clause http//serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro01/web1/=6)Discover Phantom limbs , Brief term http//www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_n2_v19/ai_201595267) Ramachandran, V.S. & Rogers-Ramachandran, D. Phantom Limbs and Neural Plasticity. in Archives of Neurology. Vol. 57 (pg. 317-320), 2000, Ramachandran article