Phantom Limb Sensations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

spectre Limb Sensations - Essay ExampleWhen a sensory(prenominal) bosom is severed during amputation, a nodule called a neuroma will form near the end of the stump. These neuromas can be very sensitive to the touch and were thus believed to generate the mysterious signals. Although surgically removing the neuromas occasionally provided temporary relief, the shade tree branch always returned. (Shreeve, 1993).Kandel has explained the grounds of tail limb disorder, according to which it is important to consider the normal pathways affect in sensation. These pathways involve both hemispheres of the brain containing a deep crack (gap) called the central sulcus. This crack is flanked on either side, by the help of two cortexes, the precentral gyrus (motor cortex), and the post central gyrus (somatosensory cortex). Incoming sensory afferents from the contra lateral (opposite) side of the embody resulting in synapsing at the somatosensory cortex after finding its pathways finished t he thalamus. The somatosensory cortex (S1) is highly uniform in a roughly topographic fashion, containing a open(a) field for every body part, with larger capable fields devoted to argonas that are more highly innervated such as the hands and lips. The receptive fields are laid out in an ordered fashion along the length of S1, representing the entire body surface in an abstract map know as a homunculus. When a sensation travels from a particular location to the receptive field, the corresponding receptive field becomes active. Likewise, if an area of S1 is stimulated, the person will feel a sensation in the corresponding body part. (Kandel, 2005).Jensen, Krebs, Nielsen and Rasmussen (1983) have suggested that dark limb can be divided into two categories as the term phantom limb refers to any painful or non-painful sensations occurring in the missing limb of the same individual.Melzack in 1971 proposed primaeval theory as a physiological explanation of painful phantom limb, this theory also has been interpret as a psychological explanation by Dawson and Arnold (1981) but as intended by the rootage it is considered as physiological in nature. It is stated that central theory credits such conscious processes that are based upon schematic standards with the passage of time along with the perception of phantom limb. These schematic representations come into initiation from the peripheral sensory mechanisms. Despite of the fact that both are interlinked with one another, both operate independently. assume for this schematic explanation has been provided in studies that show interference of locally anesthetizing peripheral nerves of an intact limb as result in the experience of phantom limb (Melzack, 1973). The main reason for the occurrence of Phantom limb is due to the fact that the brain no longer receives input from the anesthetized periphery, similar to an amputees experience, so phantom limb occurs. The two most common pain reactions following an ampu tation include phantom limb and eternal sleep limb pain. Phantom limb sensations, or non-painful sensations in the lost limb, are experienced almost straightway after an amputation. These sensations feel like the missing limb was actually present in its full representation by shape, length, and position in space. These sensations are