New Tech Lets Amputees Feel Temperature in Phantom Hands

Each year there are new advancements in prosthetics that are increasingly life-like. In that vein, a recent Reuters article discussed a new technique that allows amputees to feel the sensation of warmth and cold in their phantom hands. Using thermal electrodes placed on the skin of their residual arm, amputees reported experiencing hot or cold sensations in their phantom hand and fingers. Some participants were even able to distinguish between different materials such as plastic, glass, and copper, indicating the precise sensation locations.