Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Labat lecture. Phantom limbs.

R Melzack1

  • 1Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Regional Anesthesia
|September 1, 1989
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Phantom limb sensations are common after amputation or nerve damage. A new neuromatrix theory suggests a brain network creates the "real" feeling of missing body parts.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Labour is still painful.

Canadian Medical Association journal·2010
Same author

Central neuroplasticity and pathological pain.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·2002
Same author

Pain and the neuromatrix in the brain.

Journal of dental education·2002
Same author

Blocking NMDA receptors in the hippocampal dentate gyrus with AP5 produces analgesia in the formalin pain test.

Experimental neurology·2001
Same author

Memory by subarachnoid regional anesthesia.

Anesthesiology·2001
Same author

Age differences in nociception and pain behaviours in the rat.

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews·2000
Same journal

Labor analgesia and anesthesia in a patient with spinal muscular atrophy and vocal cord paralysis.

Regional anesthesia·1998
Same journal

Unilateral spinal anesthesia: fact or fiction?

Regional anesthesia·1998
Same journal

Versatile technology: anesthetic application of an implantable pump.

Regional anesthesia·1998
Same journal

A simplified maneuver for transarterial approach to axillary block for use by a single anesthesiologist--more explanation.

Regional anesthesia·1998
Same journal

Use of the pulse oximeter for teaching axillary nerve block.

Regional anesthesia·1998
Same journal

Response to Dr. Neal's comments and to paper by Dr. Rathmell et al.

Regional anesthesia·1998
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychology
  • Somatic Science

Background:

  • Phantom limb phenomena, including phantom limbs, are frequently experienced after amputation or denervation.
  • These sensations can also occur in other body parts like breasts or genitals, and after spinal cord injuries.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose a new theory explaining the "reality" of phantom body sensations.
  • To introduce the neuromatrix theory of the body-self.

Main Methods:

  • Examination of phantom limb phenomena.
  • Development of a theoretical model based on neural networks.

Main Results:

  • A widespread neural network, the neuromatrix, is proposed as the basis for the body-self.

Related Experiment Videos

  • This neuromatrix generates a unique pattern, the neurosignature, for all bodily inputs.
  • The neurosignature imbues bodily experiences with self-quality, affect, and meaning.

    • Conclusions:

    • The neuromatrix theory provides a framework for understanding phantom body experiences.
    • This theory highlights the role of innate neural networks modified by experience in body perception.
    • Further research is needed to explore the implications of the neuromatrix theory.