Phantom limbs are feelings that your body has a part you don’t anymore. Imagine cutting off your hand, but your brain still thinks it’s there, like the missing hand is waving to you from across the room. Sometimes people even feel pain in the missing limb, as if it were still attached. It's kind of like when you take off a sock and still think it’s on your foot for a little while.
Examples
- A person who had their leg amputated might feel their foot moving even though it's gone.
- Someone with a phantom arm might think they're brushing their hair, but there’s no hand to do the brushing.
- After an amputation, a person may feel like their missing finger is being squeezed or bitten.
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See also
- Why Do People Suffer From Phantom Limb Pain?
- Why do people experience 'phantom limb' sensations?
- What are deep tendon reflexes?
- What are lower motor neuron disorders?
- How does caffeine keep us awake and what are its long-term effects?