Visual responsiveness in sensorimotor cortex is increased following amputation and reduced after mirror therapy.

ABSTRACT: Phantom limb pain (PLP) following amputation, which is experienced by the vast majority of amputees, has been reported to be relieved with daily sessions of mirror therapy. During each session, a mirror is used to view the reflected image of the intact limb moving, providing visual feedback consistent with the movement of the missing/phantom limb. To investigate potential neural correlates of the treatment effect, we measured brain responses in volunteers with unilateral leg amputation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a four-week course of mirror therapy. Mirror therapy commenced immediately following baseline scans, which were repeated after approximately two and four week intervals. We focused on responses in the region of sensorimotor cortex corresponding to pri

SUBMITTER: Chan AW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6587025 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature