Effect of sensory discrimination training on cortical reorganisation and phantom limb pain
Abstract
Phantom limb pain is a frequent consequence of the amputation of a body part. Based on the finding that phantom limb pain is closely associated with plastic changes in the primary somatosensory cortex and animal data showing that behaviourally relevant training alters the cortical map, we devised a sensory discrimination training programme for patients with intractable phantom limb pain. Compared with a control group of medically treated patients, the training group had significant reductions in phantom limb pain (p=0.002) and cortical reorganisation (p=0.05) that were positively associated with improved sensory discrimination ability.
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Sensory-feedback systems eradicated the unpleasant phantom limb pain sensation.
“eradicated the unpleasant phantom limb pain sensation (Flor et al., 2001)”
From Selectivity and Longevity of Peripheral-Nerve and Machine Interfaces: A Review. (2017) · cites this paper as Flor et al., 2001
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- Authors
- Flor, H., Denke, C., Schaefer, M., & Grüsser, S.
- Affiliations
- Central Institute of Mental Health (DE)
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Flor, Herta
- Venue
- The Lancet
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2001-06
- Volume
- 357
- Issue
- 9270
- Pages
- 1763-1764
- ISSN
- 0099-5355 (ISSN-L)
- 0140-6736
- OpenAlex
- W2131479747
- Cited by
- 560
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 41 · 2016: 37 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 34 · 2012: 34
- FWCI
- 10.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Lancet (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine › Pain Management and Treatment
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Keywords
- phantom limb pain, cortical reorganization, primary somatosensory cortex, cortical plasticity, amputation, refractory pain, sensory discrimination
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Amputation Stumps, Arm, Discrimination Learning, Electric Stimulation, Electroencephalography, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Phantom Limb, Somatosensory Cortex, Pain Management
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