mislocalisering

Mislocalisering refers to the phenomenon where an individual experiences a sensation of a body part being located in a different position in space than its actual anatomical location. This can occur in various contexts, including phantom limb sensations after amputation, where a person feels their missing limb is still present and often experiences pain or touch in that nonexistent limb. It can also be a symptom of certain neurological conditions or sensory processing disorders.

The precise mechanisms underlying mislocalisering are not fully understood but are believed to involve alterations in the brain's representation of the body, known as the body schema or body map. Sensory input from intact parts of the body, along with activity in brain regions responsible for spatial awareness and proprioception (the sense of the relative position of one's own parts of the body), likely play crucial roles. Reorganization of neural pathways after injury or amputation is a significant factor.

Therapeutic approaches for mislocalisering often aim to recalibrate the brain's body representation. Mirror therapy, for example, involves using a mirror to create the illusion that the missing limb is present and moving normally, which can help reduce phantom limb pain and normalize the perceived location of the limb. Other treatments may include sensory re-education techniques, cognitive behavioral therapy, or pharmacological interventions depending on the underlying cause.