When someone loses a limb, they might feel sensations in the region of their missing appendage as if it were still there. This phenomenon is known as a phantom limb, and it occurs in most people who lose an arm or leg. Scientists still don’t fully understand why this happens despite numerous theories. Now, a paper published today in the journal Science describes how people with phantom limb sensations can experience temperature changes. Scientists say understanding why this happens could help them create better prosthetics that include thermal sensation.
