title: A computational model unifies apparently contradictory findings concerning phantom pain.
abstract: Amputation often leads to painful phantom sensations, whose pathogenesis is still unclear. Supported by experimental findings, an explanatory model has been proposed that identifies maladaptive reorganization of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) as a cause of phantom pain. However, it was recently found that BOLD activity during voluntary movements of the phantom positively correlates with phantom pain rating, giving rise to a model of persistent representation. In the present study, we develop a physiologically realistic, computational model to resolve the conflicting findings. Simulations yielded that both the amount of reorganization and the level of cortical activity during phantom movements were enhanced in a scenario with strong phantom pain as compared to a scenario with weak phantom pain. These results suggest that phantom pain, maladaptive reorganization, and persistent representation may all be caused by the same underlying mechanism, which is driven by an abnormally enhanced spontaneous activity of deafferented nociceptive channels.
authors.affiliation: Motion Science, University of Münster, Horstmarer Landweg 62b, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Kim J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Boström
authors.affiliation: Motion Science, University of Münster, Horstmarer Landweg 62b, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc H E
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: de Lussanet
authors.affiliation: Biological & Clinical Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, D-07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Puta
authors.affiliation: Motion Science, University of Münster, Horstmarer Landweg 62b, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wagner
mesh_terms: D001931:Brain Mapping; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005385:Fingers / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology; D010591:Phantom Limb / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*