The study will investigate the application of a non-pharmacological operant conditioning approach to reduce phantom limb pain (PLP). PLP afflicts 60-90% people who have lost a limb. It can last for years and lead to drug dependence, job loss, and poor quality of life. Current non-pharmacological interventions are encouraging but limited, and their efficacy remains unclear. Limb amputation is known to lead to abnormal sensorimotor reorganization in the brain. Multiple studies have shown that PLP severity is correlated with the extent of this reorganization. The current study will train participants via realtime feedback of brain responses to promote more normal sensorimotor response, with the goal to reduce phantom limb pain.
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Change in Pain as Measured by the Short form-McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ)
Timeframe: Baseline, end of training (session 20) i.e. approximately 10 weeks from baseline, follow-up at 3-months after training ends, follow-up at 6-months after training ends
Change in Evoked Potential (EP) Amplitude and threshhold
Timeframe: Baseline, end of training (session 20) i.e. approximately 10 weeks from baseline, follow-up at 3-months after training ends, follow-up at 6-months after training ends
Change in Somatosensory Evoked Potential (SSEP) Latency as Measured by a Tactile Event Related Potential Test
Timeframe: Baseline, end of training (session 20) i.e. approximately 10 weeks from baseline, follow-up at 3-months after training ends, follow-up at 6-months after training ends