|
Scientists from Manchester University (Murray and his team [1][2]) have proven that patients suffering pain in their inexsistent phanton limbs can relieve pain by using visualisation. Using different techniques, from a simple mirror to advanced virtual reality systems where the patient is able to even control the virtual limb, researchers have proven that visualisation can help the brain to relieve the 'phantom' pain.
Somehow, the brain recalls sensory information coming from the amputated limb, and this causes conscious pain in the patient. These results suggest that self-consciousness mechanisms are affected by the amputation and the brain cannot automatically adapt its internal model.
[1] C. D. Murray, E. Patchick, S. Pettifer, T. Howard, J. Kalkarni, and C. Bamford. Investigating the efficacy of a virtual mirror box in treating phantom limb pain in a sample of chronic sufferers. International Journal of Disability and Human Development, page to appear, 2007.
[2] C. D. Murray, S. Pettifer, T. Howard, E. Patchick, J. Kalkarni, and C. Bamford. The treatment of phantom limb pain using immersive virtual reality: three case studies. Disability and Rehabilitation, page to appear, 2007.
Related Links:
Add as favourites (513) | Quote this article on your site | Views: 27245
Only registered users can write comments. Please login or register.
Related Items:
- Pinky and the Brain
- Consciousness in Vegetative State?
- We know the brain as much as Galileo knew the universe
- Emotions and the perception of pain
- Ramón y Cajal Nobel Prize Centenary
- The Brain's Dark Energy
- Online Neuroanatomy Course
- The Quest for Consciousness: A Neurobiological Approach
- Emotion, moral judgement, and Reason
- New anesthesia derived from chillis block pain without impairing movement
|