Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

VR Cures Amputees' Phantom Limb Pain

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the all-appendages-functioning dept.

An anonymous reader writes, "Scientists have developed a virtual world like Second Life where real-life amputees have their limbs restored. The experience can cure patients of the perception of pain in their missing limbs. From the article: 'The machine is designed to combat phantom limb pain (PLP) — a sensation of pain experienced by an amputee that appears to originate in the missing limb. Intriguingly, researchers have discovered that if a person's brain can be tricked into believing they can see and move a "phantom limb," this motion reduces the perception of pain in PLP.' The graphics used by the computer look very crude, almost comically so, but apparently the system works."

2 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. If this really works... by dada21 · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...what kind of VR would they use for John Bobbitt, and would the pro-family values conservatives approve of that form of medical "service?"

  2. Cool, but... by TheSHAD0W · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...Can we throw in some cacodemons and a grenade launcher to spice up the rehab sessions?