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Illusory touch temporarily improves sensation in areas of chronic numbness : a brief communication

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dc.contributor.authorWand, B.M.
dc.contributor.authorStephens, S.E.
dc.contributor.authorMangharam, E.I.M.
dc.contributor.authorGeorge, P.J.
dc.contributor.authorBulsara, M.
dc.contributor.authorO'Connell, N.E.
dc.contributor.authorMoseley, G.L.
dc.date.issued2014
dc.description.abstractBackground: Creating the visual illusion of touch can improve tactile perception in healthy subjects. Objective. We were interested in seeing if creating the illusion of touch in an insensate area could improve sensation in that area. Conclusion: Creating the illusion of touch may improve sensory function in areas of chronic numbness. This preliminary finding adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the use of techniques that directly target cortical function in people with peripheral nerve injury. Methods: Fourteen people with chronic numbness participated in a randomized crossover experiment. The 4 conditions were the following: (a) stimulation over the unaffected limb with mirror visual feedback (experimental condition), (b) stimulation over the affected limb with mirror visual feedback, (c) stimulation over the unaffected limb without mirror visual feedback, and (d) stimulation over the affected limb without mirror visual feedback. Participants were assessed before and after each condition using the Ten-Test and mechanical detection thresholds. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models. Result: Only the experimental condition produced a change in the Ten-Test (mean difference = −1.1; 95% confidence interval = −1.8 to −0.4; P = .003), corresponding to a 24% improvement in sensation. No differences were observed for any condition in mechanical detection thresholds.
dc.identifier.citationNeurorehabilitation and Neural Repair, 2014; 28(8):797-799
dc.identifier.doi10.1177/1545968314524827
dc.identifier.issn1545-9683
dc.identifier.issn1552-6844
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1959.8/158551
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherSage Publications
dc.rightsCopyright 2014 The Authors
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1177/1545968314524827
dc.subjectcortical reorganization
dc.subjectmirror visual feedback
dc.subjectnerve injury
dc.subjectrehabilitation
dc.subjectsensory reeducation
dc.titleIllusory touch temporarily improves sensation in areas of chronic numbness : a brief communication
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished
ror.fileinfo12142953620001831 13142953160001831 9915914132601831_53111749310001831.pdf
ror.mmsid9915914132601831

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