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Phantoms in the Brain

The Reith Lectures

CHAPTER

How Do You Resurrect at Your Phantom Visually?

Some patients with phantom limbs, about a third, claim that the phantom is paralyzed. But if you simply move the normal arm and look in the mirror, it somehow seems to suddenly animate or liberate the phantom. In fact we've had patients where they do this repeatedly, the entire phantom vanishes. And I tell my medical colleagues as the first example of a successful amputation of a phantom. We have here somewhere, an amputee, Norman Crutcher, who I think you have no legs below the knee, is that right, Norman? Yes, I am. Does this ring any bells with you? Well I've got a phantom foot with the big toe is twisted underneath,

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