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Researchers Identify Phantom Limb Brain Activity

Posted by kdawson on from the little-bit-to-the-left dept.

mmmscience writes "Researchers in Switzerland think they had identified the regions of the brain responsible for creating phantom limbs and the senses that go along with them. Scientists studied a stroke victim who claimed that the phantom limb of her now-paralyzed left arm could do a number of things a normal limb could do, including 'scratch an itch on her head, with an actual sense of relief.'"

13 of 165 comments (clear)

  1. Yes but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    What explains phantom brain slashdot moderation?

    1. Re:Yes but... by owlnation · · Score: 3, Funny

      What explains phantom brain slashdot moderation?

      Dunno about that, but I suspect phantom limbs may explain "first post". Or maybe phantom brain explains that better.

  2. But what Slashdotters really need to know... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Can you masturbate with a phantom limb?

    1. Re:But what Slashdotters really need to know... by Hangingcurve · · Score: 5, Funny

      If you use the left part of your brain, it feels like someone else is doing it.

    2. Re:But what Slashdotters really need to know... by Fumus · · Score: 5, Funny

      "Look! No hands!"

  3. Re:Like Gil "The Arm" by mikelieman · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or like -- The Phantom Limb!

    "He wears a lot of purple for a white guy. ..."

    --
    Technology -- No Place For Wimps! Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Chatroom -- http://www.wemissjerry.org
  4. Mind over matter by Magreger_V · · Score: 1, Funny

    Intriguing. So, the more Metachlorians one has, the more one can control the body?

  5. Re:Like Gil "The Arm" by attemptedgoalie · · Score: 2, Funny

    Go Team Venture!

    --
    My mom says I'm cool.
  6. Re:mental imagery in practice by Yetihehe · · Score: 2, Funny

    I've just tried virtually scratching my head, but it didn't help. It really is only a placebo effect.

    --
    Extreme Programming - Redundant Array of Inexpensive Developers
  7. Hypervisor technology by MarkKnopfler · · Score: 2, Funny

    Finally reaches the human brain...

  8. Re:A serious question by Schemat1c · · Score: 2, Funny

    As a male, I can safely say that I have no idea what direction my penis is currently facing,

    I do 'cause I can feel it touching my ankle.

    --

    "Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better." - Unknown
  9. Re:A serious question by value_added · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm just coming up to 3 years post-op.

    Hopefully that's not a recommendation. I'd imagine if the average Slashdotter had their own breasts to fondle, they'd never leave their basements.

  10. Re:A serious question by Hognoxious · · Score: 2, Funny

    I sometimes have something I call "the hermaphrodite dream", where I have both a penis and vagina.

    Ob: well you can go and fuck yourself!

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."