CORTICAL REORGANIZATION IN HUMAN AMPUTEES AND MISLOCALIZATION OF PAINFUL STIMULI TO THE PHANTOM LIMB

In human arm amputees, a significant relationship was found between th e amount of reorganization in the primary somato-sensory cortex, and t he amount of body surface from which painful stimuli evoked sensations that were perceived to be emanating from the now missing extremity, i .e. the phantom limb. This mislocalization could be evoked almost equa lly from stimulation of either side of the body. Based on these findin gs obtained by magnetic source imaging and psychophysical testing in e ight amputees, it is concluded that the extent of the generally known cortical reorganization contralateral to the amputation is an indicato r of more widespread plastic changes in the brain involving bilateral pathways.