A person who loses an arm may at first have a phantom arm and hand. Then after many years, the phantom may shrink, until only a hand is felt at the shoulder. This shows that
A)the pain and sensations are now passing directly through the pain gates.
B)the pain and sensations are now passing through the central biasing system.
C)phantom limb sensations are "sane hallucinations" that can be cognitively suppressed.
D)the brain gradually reorganizes to adjust for the sensory loss.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phenomenon of a phantom limb shrinking over time and the sensation being felt closer to the body illustrates cortical reorganization in the brain. This adjustment occurs as the brain adapts to the loss of the limb, reallocating sensory processing areas that previously corresponded to the missing limb to other parts of the body.

A Person Who Loses an Arm May at First Have