...Phantom Limb and the Brain Fatima Gutierrez Edward Rodriguez Santa Monica Community school Abstract Phantom limb is an effect in the brain that translates to the body after am amputation of a limb with interior or exterior, this phenomenon has been shown to present long term or temporary. When phantom limb occurs the part of the brain that play. Vital role is the parietal lobe and the central nervous system, sensory neurons sending messages to the central nervous system which gives sensations to the missing limb. There are three characteristics in phantom limb and there are currently three different types of treatments to reduce pain. Phantom limb is reaction to the rewiring of the brain due to an adulation of limb and reaction of the central nervous system. There are currently three types of treatment; immerse virtual reality, prosthetic usage and mirror box to help reduce or remove phantom limb. Introduction Phantom limb is a temporary or long term effect on the brain and body that occurs only post amputation of a limb for an intermittent period of time. Phantom brain can be categorized as a mental disorder, and is assumed to originate from the stem of the region of amputation. There are three types of characteristic in the phantom complex. The first is phantom limb pain (PLP) which emphasis on a painful sensation in the spatial area of the missing limb. Phantom limb sensation(PLS) which is anytype of sensation in relation to the absent limb without any pain. Lastly is...
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...Phantom limbs are a phenomenon that those with missing limbs, either amputated or born without, experience. Phantom limbs can make the person with the missing limb feel as if there are movements, paralysis, or pain where the limb use to be or should be. The intended purpose of the experiments that were done is to explain previously unexplored subjects pertaining to the plasticity of the normal human brain. Researchers were interested in a variety of patients, focusing a lot of their interest in patients who faced paralysis in their phantom limb – being unable to move it prior to loosing the limb or because of limb loss. Some patients experienced involuntary movements in their phantom limb, the most common being the clenching spasm. The clenching...
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...Merleau-Ponty analyzes the phantom limb experience using a framework that consists of physiological and psychological forces. Physiological facts, which he defines as those in space, and psychological facts cannot account for the phenomenon of phantom limbs on their own, instead the two must be fused together and work with other theories in order to formulate the true experience of the phantom limb. When diving into the exploration of the phantom limb experience, Merleau-Ponty discovers one of the most vital parts of non-personal, or pre- personal dimensions, of our existence. He starts his paper of by discussing how after an amputation, the patient will continue to experience the missing limb as if it were still a part of...
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...A phantom limb is when a body part is amputated, but the brain still gives the person the feeling that it is still there. Most people who experience this have phantom limb pain. Phantom limb pain is pain that is felt in the amputated limb even though it is not physically present. This mind-boggling phenomenon is called phantom limb syndrome and most amputees experience it. Phantom limb syndrome was first discovered in 1500’s by a French military surgeon named Amboise Pare. He noticed that the amputee soldiers complained of pain or sensations in the limb that was no longer there. We now know that “virtually all amputees experience phantom sensations, painful or not, after limb amputation. Non‐painful phantom sensations rarely pose a clinical problem. However, in some amputees, the phantom becomes the site of severe pain, which may be exceedingly difficult to treat” (Br. J. Anaesth). How can a medical...
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...time the blindfolded student touched the second student. This made the first student think that he was touching his own nose and that his nose had gotten longer because the blindfolded student could feel the touch of the second student, thinking it was his own finger. This demonstration's purpose was to show the class an example of temporary representations and to show that they only have to do with increasing or decreasing the size of a body part, not completely removing it. Our minds can change the representation it has of our body parts by making them grow or shrink, but it is hard for our minds to take out the representation of that body part. This demonstration relates to the phenomenon of “phantom limbs” because they both have to do with the minds map of its body. Phantom limbs happens when you loose your hand and you still have feelings of sensation in a hand that you no longer have. When you loose your hand, the hand area in the homunculus does not go away. During this demonstration, half of the people who have performed this study have thought their nose is 2 feet long. Our minds stretch out to incorporate the tool that we are using, they change to fit the situation. There is a sense of permanence in the way our minds see our bodies. There are patients who have lost their hands and even years after surgery, they still feel sensation from the hand that is not there. The existence of our body parts in our mind does not change easily, if at all. This demonstration also...
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...senses. In the end our senses are only as accurate as circumstances allow them to be. One reason I believe in the inaccuracy of our senses is something called the McGurk effect so named after its discoverer, Harry McGurk. (web Hoskins yale) While studying infants and how they perceive speech Harry McGurk created a video that is quite baffling. In the video a volunteer is visually recorded saying “ga” but the sound “ba” is dubbed over it. (Haskins) When you watch the video however you hear the sound “da”. (Haskins) Our sense of sight is telling us one thing while our sense of hearing is telling us another. Because of the inaccuracy of these senses the information perceived by them, the sound “da”, is also incorrect. Another reason I believe our senses are inaccurate is phantom limb pain. This is a condition that results from the amputation of a limb and is a combination of psychological and neurological factors. This condition can be treated using a number of prescription drug treatments but success rates are slim. There are several forms of treatment that do not involve prescription medication and have equal success. One of the more interesting treatments is mirror box therapy. This is an example of the inaccuracy of our senses. Using mirrors it visually appears that there is a healthy limb when in reality there is not. Through our sense of sight...
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...It has been reported that up to 85% of stroke survivors experience hemiparesis and that 55% to 75% of stroke survivors have continued to have limitation in upper- extremity functioning (2). Upper limb impairments in people who have had a stroke are well documented and include spasticity, dystonia, and muscle contracture, loss of strength and dexterity, decreased active joint range of motion and lack of movement speed, precision, bimanual coordination, and other common impairment include those of speech and language, vision, cognition and sensation (16,12). Many factors plays a role in determining the long-term of stroke, the site, size of the initial stroke lesion and by the extent of subsequent recovery. The latter is a complex process that probably occurs through a combination of spontaneous and learning-dependent processes, including restitution (restoring the functionality of damaged neural tissue), substitution (reorganization of partly spared neural to relearn lost function), and compensation (improvement of the disparity between the impaired skills of a patient and the demands of their environment) (12). From 55% to 75% of stroke survivors have a paretic arm that many improve primarily within 6 months (17). Most research of stroke rehabilitation has been about the effect of interventions on recovery in different forms of impairment and...
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...The brain is the largest and most complex part of the nervous system. It weighs about 3 pounds (1.3 kilograms), and contains about 100 billion neurons. Bateman, J. Fremont. "The Brain and Nervous System." The New Book of Popular Science. Grolier Online, 2013. Web. 12 Aug.2013. Cerebrum, one of the major divisions of the brain. "Cerebrum." Encyclopedia Americana. Grolier Online, 2013. Web. 12 Aug. 2013. Cerebrum The cerebrum, which comprises about 85% of the weight of the human brain, is involved in the ability to plan, to exercise creativity, and to store information in memory. On its surface is the cerebral cortex, a sheet of gray matter named for its wrinkled appearance (cortex being the Latin word for tree bark). Cerebral Cortex. Varying in thickness from about 0.06 to 0.2 inch (1.5 to 4.5 mm), the cerebral cortex not only receives and processes information regarding taste, touch, sight, sound, and smell but also governs muscle movement, thus allowing humans to analyze their surroundings and to respond to them as well. The cerebral cortex is divided into three areas, with two less structurally developed areas respectively processing emotion and smell, and the more elaborate neocortex processing all other functions. The three-layered archicortex is the emotional portion of the brain and is the simplest of the three. The three- to five-layered paleocortex is the olfactory portion of the brain. The neocortex is a more complex six-layered structure...
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...Up as tolerated/PT Transfer Assistance: 1-person Toileting:Assist Isolation: No Oxygen: 3 L/min Finger Sticks: NA Vital Signs from Previous Shift: T:98.2f P:84 R:18 BP:129/83 Height: 6’1” Weight:232lbs. BMI:30.6 IV Site: none IV Fluids: none Last 24 hrs intake: na Output: na Patient Introduction (2-3 sentences):RM is a a 68 year old male. A former Los Angeles police sergeant (25 yrs), and most recently a Redi-Mix concrete driver, RM is a real class act. He is facing the fact that he “might not live as long as he previously thought”. But he is accepting his condition rather than wallowing in pity, and is grateful to have some relief from his chronic pain. He experiences PLP (phantom limb pain). He previously had a total left knee arthroplasty that his...
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...MANAGEMENT OF FRACTURES CASTS A cast is used to immobilize and hold bone fragments during reduction. It is made up of layers of plaster or fiberglass (water-activated polyurethane resin) bandages molded to the body part that it encases. Indications * To apply uniform compression of soft tissues * To permit early mobilization * To correct and prevent deformities * To support and stabilize weak joints Types of Casts 1 Short and long -arm cast for the upper limbs. : Extends from below the elbow to the proximal palmar crease. 2 Gauntlet Cast (thumb spica): from below the elbow to the proximal palmar crease. 3 Short and Long-leg Cast for the lower limbs. 4 Body Cast: Encircles the trunk stabilizing the spine. 5 Spica Cast: Incorporates the trunk and extremity. 6 Shoulder spica: encloses trunk, shoulder, and elbow. 7 Hip spica: encloses trunk and a lower extremity and can be single or double. Single extends from nipple line to include pelvis and one thigh while double includes both thighs and lower legs. 8 Cast-brace: External support about a fracture that is constructed with hinges to permit early motion of joints, early mobilization, and independence. 9 Cylinder Cast: Can be used for upper or lower extremity e.g. fracture or dislocation of knee or elbow dislocation. Complications of Casts * Pressure of cast may cause necrosis, pressure sores, and nerve palsies. * Compartment syndrome * Cast syndrome associated especially of...
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...Reading # 1 from NBC Chapter 1- First summarize the major elements of this chapter for yourself , and write them out in essay form. The begun of the cyborgs unplugged, they started to talk about the two main people that create the cyborgs project. The two people were very important to this project because not only they made the cyborgs; they made something that most people would not have made. The idea was to create a cyborg with animals and machines that will response in section they create it for. The cyborg they waned to create was a man-machine hybrid that would become an artifact-organism system in what is an implanted electronic device. The device was to have a bodily feedback singles that would automatically response to the wakefulness and metabolism and even the respiration, heart rate, but other as well that would be feedbacks signals. Also explain how the device work as in if its was a toilet seat that would be flush. The way the toilet seat that flush: It would have a to be flush in order to have the water flows into the ballcock and than the water would be riding on the rising tide, which would reaches to the preset level and than after that it would thus recloses the valve. This is like systems that are like homestatically being controlled. 1. Summarize the distinction from the traditional Klines & Clines definition of the cyborg vs. the one that Clark is proposing? 2. What kind of model might you have that is different than this? The other...
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...Chapter 4: Sensation and Perception Lecture 6 & 7 • Learning Outcomes • Define and differentiate between sensation and perception. • Identify the parts of the eye, describe the properties of light and the theories of color vision. • Learning Outcomes • Describe how visual perception is organized. • Identify the parts of the ear; explain the sense of hearing. • Learning Outcomes • Describe the chemical senses. • Identify the skin senses and theoretical explanations for pain. • Learning Outcomes • Describe the kinesthetic and vestibular senses. • Explain why psychologists are skeptical about extra sensory perception. • Sensation and Perception • What are Sensation and Perception? • “I have perfect vision” –Heather Sellers has problem with her perception. She cannot recognize faces-prosopagnosia (face blindness) “In college, on a date at the Spaghetti Station, I returned from the bathroom and plunked myself down in the wrong booth, facing the wrong man. I remained unaware he was not my date even as my date (a stranger to me) accosted Wrong Booth Guy, and then stormed out of the Station. I can’t distinguish actors in movies and on TV. I do not recognize myself in photos or video. I can’t recognize my stepsons in the soccer pick-up line; I failed to determine which husband was mine at a party, in the mall, at the market” This curious mix of “perfect” vision and face blindness illustrates the distinction between sensation and perception. • 1. What are Sensation...
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...Present techniques employed One technique employed to effectively rehabilitate stroke for victims, especially those suffering from partial paralysis or rehabilitation of victims suffering from partial paralysis or loss loss of function, is using mirror therapy. Mirror therapy is a of function, such as mirror therapy, require substantial amount of resources, which may not be readily available. In traditional mirror therapy, patients place a mirror beside the functional limb, blocking their view of the affected limb, creating the illusion that both the limbs are working properly, which strategy that has been used successfully to treat phantom pain after amputation and recovery from hemiplegia after a stroke. In traditional mirror therapy, patients place a mirror beside the functional limb, blocking their view of the affected limb, thus enhances recovery by enlisting direct simulation. This paper creating the illusion that both the limbs are working properly, proposes an alternate robot based concept, named Wear-A-BAN, which enhances recovery by enlisting direct stimulation. In where the rehabilitative task will be carried out by a normal therapy of...
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...Chapter 13 Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) & Reflex Activity Objectives 1. Define peripheral nervous system and list its components. 2. Define sensation and perception 3. Classify general sensory receptors by structure, stimulus detected, and body location. 4. Distinguish between receptor and generator potentials and sensory adaptation. 5. Compare and contrast the three main levels of neural integration. 6. Describe the four properties of a stimulus. 7. Distinguish between tonic and phasic receptors and the idea of adaptation. 8. Discuss pain (types, neurotransmitters, fast vs. slow pain, phantom & referred pain). 9. Define ganglion and indicate the general body location of ganglia. 10. Describe the general structure of a nerve. 11. Name the 12 pairs of cranial nerves; indicate the body region and structures innervated by each. 12. Describe the formation of a spinal nerve and the general distribution of its rami. 13. Define plexus. Name the major plexuses and describe the distribution and function of the peripheral nerves arising from each plexus. 14. Outline the three levels of the motor hierarchy. 16. Name the components of a reflex arc and distinguish between visceral and somatic reflexes. Chapter 12 (CNS) 19. Describe the gross and microscopic structure of the spinal cord. 20. List the major spinal cord tracts, and classify each as a motor or sensory tract. I Overview (Fig. 13.1) A...
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...Every sound and every note has a specific color and sometimes shape. Listening to music creates wondrous seas of vivid color dancing across the field of vision, purple blobs pulsing and dissipating, and waves of green cresting and crashing above a deep blue ocean of melodies. Synesthesia is a neurological condition or gift that affects 2-4% of the general population (PLoS Biology 2011). It presents itself in many different forms, some more common than others. Although synesthesia is not a new discovery, there are still many mysteries as to where the gene is located, how it is inherited, and why the gene has been conserved throughout time. A battery of tests are available to help diagnose synesthesia but do not check for all types. The effects...
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