Phantom Limb Syndrome

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1. What is the explanation given for phantom limb syndrome?

The theory is that there is a complete map of the surface of the body inside the brain and that one entire side of the body is mapped to the opposite side. Part of one side of the body is represented on the other side of the brain, along a vertical strip of cortex called the somatosensory cortex. Basically, when a limb is amputated the corresponding part of the brain no longer gets any input and it wants new sensory input. There is a huge reorganization of the sensory pathways in the brain, as if there are wiring crossing in the brain. After a limb amputated and pain is felt in the phantom limb, it is considered a construct of the mind. A brain scan was done on a patient who felt pain on a limb that was amputated, the scan confirmed that new brain pathways were become opened (You can get phantom syndrome in almost any part of the body.)

2. Explain the brain networks involved in blindsight.

Blindsight is seeing something when you are completely blind. Blindsight is consciousness awareness and is being able to detect things without being aware of them. Vision is not entirely since there is a disconnection but you can still actually respond to visual information, it’s the act of being able to visually respond to something. …show more content…
One pathway goes through the eye, then through the thalamus and finally to the visual cortex of the brain (you need the visual cortex to consciously see something); the second pathway goes to the brainstem and eventually to higher centers in the brain with reflexing behavior, so one pathway doesn’t see anything, however, the other pathway is still working; so, when a person uses that pathway at guessing an object that they cannot see, it is unconscious blind sight. Damage to the visual centers can warp a person’s consciousness. Visual input divides it into two streams of
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