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Phantom limb sensations occur in amputees because of a persistent body map maintained by the brain, researchers say

Results show this map remains the same for years after an amputation

A robotic limb replacement might be more easily controlled if it is attached to nerves leading to this brain map, researchers say

MONDAY, Aug. 25, 2025 (HealthDay News) — “Phantom limb” pain has been a curious aftereffect of amputation, with people experiencing false sensations from a hand, arm or leg that is no longer there.

Researchers now think they know why phantom limb sensations occur.

It turns out that the brain maintains a “map” of the body that remains unchanged even after a limb has been amputated, researchers report in the journal Nature Neuroscience .

This not only explai

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