Apr 13 2009
Woman Develops Invisible Third Arm
This might sound like one of those impossible stories, but it is true, and it appears entirely possible. A woman in Switzerland, sixty-four, had a stroke, and within a few days she developed a third arm that she can feel and use to some extent. She can’t pick up objects with the arm, but if she has to scratch herself she can do that.
Doctors say the women is suffering from SPL or Supernumerary Phantom Limb. The doctor’s and scientists that investigated this case say it is rare, but it does happen. There are currently only nine case of SPL known, and this is one of them. What do you think? Phantom limbs exist?
Wow. I believe phantom limb syndrome exists because I’ve had a personal experience with it - itching from a part of my body that was no longer there after surgery - but this is the first I’ve heard of a phantom limb occurring when no limb was previously present.
Very interesting stuff!
Very interesting. I read more here. It’s pretty cool that they tested her brain reactions to moving her “real” arms vs thinking about moving them, vs moving the “third” arm, and how the brain responded to the latter as if it was for real…. and that it showed a response on the cheek when “scratched”. The comment by “Dr Scott” is pretty thorough, and I like what he says about science knowing about the hardware pretty well, but the software? Not even close.