Phantom Limb

Phantom limb syndrome occurs when an amputee senses and feels their limb that isn't really there. Even when the limb isn't real, the amputee will still feel pain from their "phantom limb". Although phantom limb syndrome only happens to amputee's, a group of researchers discovered how to let non-amputees feel this sensation of having an "extra limb". They hope that this will lead to better understanding of phantom limb syndrome and find a way to prevent it. The scientists experimented by making a person put one hand on one side of the table, cover it in a way so that the person cannot see their hand. Next two paintbrushes are used to stroke the covered hand and to stroke the "invisible hand". This gave the sensation that the person had another hand. When the stroking stopped, a knife was raised and was swung around at the "invisible hand". By measuring sweat, scientists were able to know that the people really felt the "invisible hand". But when a person did not have a phantom hand, they did not feel as stressed when the knife was waved around. I am reading a book by William Sleator called the Phantom Limb. I won't reveal much of the story, but I will say that the main character discovers a mirror box. A mirror box is used in mirror therapy to help with phantom limb syndrome. When the amputee is feeling pain they insert their hand in the box. There is a mirror in the middle of the box that reflects their one existing arm and hand. Because their arm and hand is reflected, it looks like they have both arms. If they unclench their hand, it looks as though the other hand unclenched as well, the "phantom hand". This was invented by Vilayanur S. Ramachandran. I thought that this was very cool. I want to try it out, but it is kind of creepy as well. If a non amputee were to stick their hands in the box and move their left hand the mirror will show the right hand moving as well even though the person isn't actually moving their hand. I think that this would feel really cool.