With the far infrared ray applied to the 'phantom limbs' in amputees and the corresponding normal legs in healthy subjects, the sensation of (phantom) limb will be assessed for each subject using the techniques of fMRI and meridian response.
This project will investigate two main hypotheses based on our previous studies on phantom limb sensation and phantom limb pain. The first hypothesis states that phantom limb sensation and phantom limb pain both correlate with the 'phantom limb', while the second one maintains that the phantom limb can interact with the patient's body by means of the meridian system. With the far infrared ray applied to the 'phantom limbs' in amputees and the corresponding normal legs in healthy subjects, the sensation of (phantom) limb will be assessed for each subject using the techniques of fMRI and meridian response. By analyzing the data collected from both groups, the investigators expect both hypotheses will be supported by the results of experiments in this project.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
20
exposure 40-minute far infrared ray to the sole for each person/amputee.
NTUH department of orthopedics; NTU department of electrical engneering
Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan
RECRUITINGResting functional MR images
The resting fMRI images will be obtained before and after the far infrared exposed to the phantom limb site. The default mode of the brain will be analyzed. If the default mode was changed, it was one of the evidence that the neural signal was transmitted from the phantom limb site into the brain and caused the change.
Time frame: one year
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