Extended Essay Bio

Contribution of neuroplasticity in the treatment of phantom
limb syndrome
To what extent does the neuroplasticity of the brain contribute to the development
and potential treatment of phantom limb syndrome?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3198614/
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/776122
https://jnnp.bmj.com/content/93/8/833
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5825921/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28211829/
https://www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000009858#:~:text=This%20study
%20demonstrates%20that%20training,but%20not%20after%20random%20training.
https://www.britannica.com/science/neuroplasticity
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557811/#:~:text=It%20is
%20defined%20as%20the,traumatic%20brain%20injury%20(TBI).
https://www.britannica.com/science/phantom-limb-syndrome
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Mirror_Therapy#:~:text=In%20mirror
%20therapy%20(MT)%2C,affected%20limb%20behind%20a%20mirror.
Content
Introduction
Background information
- phantom limb syndrome
- Neuroplasticity
- Mirror therapy
- Brain computer interface
Methodology
Analysis
Conclusion
Evaluation
Work cited
Introduction
Phantom limb syndrome (PLS) is a neurological condition in which individuals

experience sensations, often painful, in a limb that has been amputated. This
astonishing phenomenon has intrigued neuroscientists as well as clinicians, as it
challenges the conventional understanding of how the brain perceives the body. Central
to the development of phantom limb sensations is the concept of neuroplasticity,
according to the national library of medicine (NIH) “It is defined as the ability of the
nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by
reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections after injuries, such as a stroke or
traumatic brain injury (TBI)”. Neuroplasticity, while essential for adaptation, can also
lead to maladaptive outcomes, such as the misinterpretation of signals that cause
phantom limb pain (PLP).
This study seeks to explore the extent to which neuroplasticity plays a role in both the
onset and treatment of phantom limb syndrome. Although several studies have already
been made on the relation between phantom limb pain (PLP) and neuroplasticity, they
are inconsistent. By investigating how the brain adapts following the loss of a limb and
how this reorganization may contribute to the experience of phantom sensations, the
essay will provide a detailed analysis of the neurological mechanisms behind the
syndrome. Additionally, it will examine how modern therapeutic approaches (such as
mirror therapy, virtual reality, and brain-computer interface) leverage neuroplasticity to
alleviate PLP, offering potential long-term relief.
Through a combination of scientific research and case studies, this study will argue that
neuroplasticity is not only a key contributor to the development of phantom limb
syndrome but also a critical factor in its treatment. The objective of this investigation is
to highlight the dual nature of neuroplasticity, both as a source of chronic pain and a
pathway to recovery. The research question explored in this essay “to what extent does
the neuroplasticity of the brain contribute to the development and potential treatment of
phantom limb syndrome?”.
Background information
Phantom limb syndrome

Phantom limb syndrome (PLS) has been recognized and documented for centuries, it
was “first described in 1552 by French surgeon Ambroise Paré, who operated on
wounded soldiers and wrote about patients who complained of pain in amputated limbs”
states Britanica .However, it was not until the late 19th century, with the observations of
neurologist Silas Weir Mitchell, that the phenomenon began to gain significant medical
attention. Phantom limb sensations are experienced by the majority of amputees, with
many reporting not just the perception of the missing limb, but also intense pain,
referred to as phantom limb pain (PLP).Pain sensations range from burning and
shooting pains to feelings of tingling “pins and needles.
While phantom limb syndrome occurs only in amputees, phantom sensations may be
perceived in people who have survived strokes but lost function of certain body parts or
who have spinal cord injury or peripheral nerve injury. The underlying cause of phantom
limb syndrome remained a mystery for a long time. Traditional theories focused on
peripheral factors, such as nerve damage at the site of amputation, as the main
contributor to these sensations. However, advancements in neuroscience have shifted
the focus toward the brain and central nervous system. Furthermore, according to
Brittannica, “In the 1990s researchers found that neuroplasticity—the ability of neurons
in the brain to modify their connections and behavior—could explain pain phenomena
that had been observed in association with phantom limb syndrome.”
Neural plasticity
Neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural
connections, has emerged as a critical concept in understanding PLS. When a
limb is lost, the corresponding area of the brain’s somatosensory cortex no
longer receives input from that body part. This leads to cortical reorganization,
where neighboring brain areas may invade the now inactive region, resulting in
the brain continuing to "sense" the missing limb.
This maladaptive neuroplasticity is thought to be one of the primary drivers of
phantom limb pain, as the brain interprets the abnormal signals from the
reorganized regions as pain or discomfort. At the same time, neuroplasticity
presents an opportunity for treatment. By retraining the brain through various
techniques, such as mirror therapy or virtual reality, clinicians can help the brain
re-establish a more accurate body map and reduce pain.
As neuroscience continues to develop, our understanding of PLS has evolved

from a focus on peripheral damage to a more central theory based on brain
plasticity. This shift in perspective has also led to more innovative and effective
treatments, as researchers attempt to harness neuroplasticity not only to
understand phantom limb syndrome but also to treat it.
Mirror therapy
“In mirror therapy (MT), a mirror is used to create a reflective illusion of an
affected limb in order to trick the brain into thinking movement has occurred
without pain, or to create positive visual feedback of a limb movement. It involves
placing the affected limb behind a mirror. The mirror is positioned so the
reflection of the opposing limb appears in place of the hidden limb.” States
physiopedia. Clinicians try to create this illusion using mirror box, the device used
is simply a box with a mirror on the center allowing to place the hands on each
side of the mirror, the affected limb is placed on the inside of the bow and the
unaffected one on the outside, as its reflection gives the illusion of another
existing limb.

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Contribution of neuroplasticity in the treatment of phantom

Phantom limb syndrome (PLS) is a neurological condition in which individuals

Phantom limb syndrome

As neuroscience continues to develop, our understanding of PLS has evolved

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