[AMP-L] Phantom Limb Syndrome Offers Clues to Understanding Consciousness

[Wayne Renardson]

via Genetic Literacy Project:

Women may experience phantom breasts after mastectomy; men can 
experience phantom erections after amputation of a cancerous penis; 
and there are reports of phantom eyes, noses, teeth, and even phantom 
haemorrhoids, bowel movements and gas after surgical removal of the 
rectum.  

Phantom sensations occur because the brain creates a dynamic model of 
the body by integrating tactile and visual information with limb 
position signals from the muscles and tendons. This model, variously 
called the "body schema" or "body image", is crucial for both the 
perception and control of the body. But when a limb or other body 
part is removed, the schema is not properly updated, and so it 
retains an imprint of the missing part. As a result, the individual 
remains conscious of the missing part - often, even more so than of  
their existing body parts.

The rest of the story, with photos, here:

https://tinyurl.com/2gqncfc6

Wayne R.