Health and Me

Supriya Ramesh

What Bloating, Belching, and Gas Reveal About Your Digestive Health

Bloating

Many of us have been there. Sneaking in a burp during a meeting, unbuttoning our jeans after dinner, or blaming others for suspicious sounds and smells. <span>Bloating</span>, <span>belching</span>, and <span>gas</span> may be embarrassing, but according to the expert, these everyday digestive hiccups are often your body’s way of sending you important signals.

Bloating happens when gas or air gets trapped in your stomach or intestines, leaving you feeling stretched like a balloon. Dr Surakshith TK, Senior Consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Fortis Escorts, Okhla, explains that certain foods are prime reasons. Beans, broccoli, milk, and fizzy drinks are notorious gas producers, while simple habits such as eating too quickly, chatting through a meal, or chewing gum can also cause you to swallow excess air.

Though occasional bloating is harmless, if your stomach feels bloated on the regular, it might be worth paying closer attention to your diet and habits.

A well-timed burp can be a relief, but when it turns into a constant soundtrack, it is not just poor table manners. Belching is your body’s way of expelling excess air swallowed during eating or drinking. According to Dr Surakshith, while occasional burping is perfectly normal, frequent or habitual belching could be a red flag. Conditions such as <span>acid reflux</span>, <span>gastritis</span>, or certain food intolerances may be to blame.

It is better to listen early than ignore the signs.

Dr Surakshith says it is simply a side effect of your <span>gut bacteria</span> breaking down food. Fibre-rich foods like whole grains, beans, and veggies are particularly gassy, but that is usually a sign your gut microbes are hard at work.

However, if you are passing more gas than usual, or it comes with an odour strong enough to clear a room, your gut may be hinting at trouble. Imbalances in gut bacteria, food intolerances, or conditions such as <span><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome">irritable bowel syndrome</a></span> (IBS) could be the hidden reasons.

<h3>When to Stop Ignoring the Signals</h3>

Most bloating, belching, and gas episodes are just temporary inconveniences. But Dr Surakshith warns that if they persist or are accompanied by pain, nausea, or changes in your bowel movements, it is time to check in with a healthcare professional. These symptoms could point to lactose intolerance, <span>coeliac disease</span>, IBS, or other digestive disorders that need medical attention.

Ignoring these red flags will make the problem worse and not make it vanish.

You can often outsmart your digestive problems with small tweaks. Eat slowly, chew thoroughly, and avoid gulping down food like it is a race. Cutting back on carbonated drinks and keeping an eye on how your body reacts to dairy, beans, or high-fibre meals can also help. Most importantly, Dr Surakshith encourages paying attention to your body’s feedback. Simple lifestyle shifts can ease discomfort and, in the process, give your gut the happy balance it craves.

Health Conditions A-Z

health

bloating

belching

digestion

gut bacteria

fibre

acid reflux

gastritis

irritable bowel syndrome

coeliac disease

The Most Dangerous Sign Your Body Is Starving for Magnesium

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Many of us have been there. Sneaking in a burp during a meeting, unbuttoning our jeans after dinner, or blaming others for suspicious sounds and smells. Bloating, belching, and gas may be embarrassing, but according to the expert, these everyday digestive hiccups are often your body’s way of sending you important signals.What is Bloating?Bloating happens when gas or air gets trapped in your stomach or intestines, leaving you feeling stretched like a balloon. Dr Surakshith TK, Senior Consultant in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Fortis Escorts, Okhla, explains that certain foods are prime reasons. Beans, broccoli, milk, and fizzy drinks are notorious gas producers, while simple habits such as eating too quickly, chatting through a meal, or chewing gum can also cause you to swallow excess air.Though occasional bloating is harmless, if your stomach feels bloated on the regular, it might be worth paying closer attention to your diet and habits.What is Belching?A well-timed burp can be a relief, but when it turns into a constant soundtrack, it is not just poor table manners. Belching is your body’s way of expelling excess air swallowed during eating or drinking. According to Dr Surakshith, while occasional burping is perfectly normal, frequent or habitual belching could be a red flag. Conditions such as acid reflux, gastritis, or certain food intolerances may be to blame.It is better to listen early than ignore the signs.What is Gas? Dr Surakshith says it is simply a side effect of your gut bacteria breaking down food. Fibre-rich foods like whole grains, beans, and veggies are particularly gassy, but that is usually a sign your gut microbes are hard at work.However, if you are passing more gas than usual, or it comes with an odour strong enough to clear a room, your gut may be hinting at trouble. Imbalances in gut bacteria, food intolerances, or conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) could be the hidden reasons.When to Stop Ignoring the SignalsMost bloating, belching, and gas episodes are just temporary inconveniences. But Dr Surakshith warns that if they persist or are accompanied by pain, nausea, or changes in your bowel movements, it is time to check in with a healthcare professional. These symptoms could point to lactose intolerance, coeliac disease, IBS, or other digestive disorders that need medical attention.Ignoring these red flags will make the problem worse and not make it vanish.How to Take Care of Your GutYou can often outsmart your digestive problems with small tweaks. Eat slowly, chew thoroughly, and avoid gulping down food like it is a race. Cutting back on carbonated drinks and keeping an eye on how your body reacts to dairy, beans, or high-fibre meals can also help. Most importantly, Dr Surakshith encourages paying attention to your body’s feedback. Simple lifestyle shifts can ease discomfort and, in the process, give your gut the happy balance it craves.

what bloating, belching, and gas reveal about your digestive health

Magnesium Deficiency

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People pop supplements to sleep better, soothe their nerves, or stop those calf cramps. But what if we told you that the most dangerous consequence of low <span>magnesium</span> is not about tossing and turning or having twitchy legs at all?

According to nutritionist Dr Eric Berg, also known as the Knowledge Doc, the real red flag is something far scarier and far more life-altering.

<h3>It’s Not About Cramps, Stress, or Palpitations</h3>

When you think of magnesium <span>deficiency</span>, the usual problems that come to mind are cramping muscles, restless nights, and that fluttery feeling in your chest. Sure, they are uncomfortable. But as Dr. Eric Berg explains:

“The most dangerous symptom of a magnesium deficiency is not muscle cramps, it's not anxiety or insomnia, and it's not heart palpitations. Those are warning signs of the silent red flag behind 80% of all chronic <span>disease</span>s. If you ignore it, it won't just disrupt your health; it will literally cause disease because it's at the heart of so many health problems.”

<h3>Then, what is this “silent red flag”? According to Dr. Berg:</h3>

“The most dangerous symptom of a magnesium deficiency is <span>mitochondria</span>l dysfunction. It's impossible for your mitochondria to make <span>energy</span> without magnesium, and most chronic diseases start with dysfunctional mitochondria.”

Mitochondria are the microscopic “batteries” inside your cells. They’re the power stations that keep your heart pumping, your brain firing, and your muscles moving. Take magnesium out of the equation, and these little energy factories can’t run. Instead of fueling you, they fizzle out, and that’s when disease creeps in.

When your mitochondria don’t get enough magnesium, it leads to <span>fatigue</span>, brain fog, and slow recovery from workouts, which are just the tip of the iceberg.

But as Dr. Berg says, mitochondrial dysfunction isn’t just about feeling drained; it’s linked to heavy hitters like <span>cancer</span>, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, type 2 <span>diabetes</span>, and high blood pressure. That means something as “simple” as a mineral deficiency could be a silent trigger for some of the most feared diseases of our time.

Magnesium deficiency is alarmingly common, thanks to modern diets and stress-filled lifestyles. Coffee, alcohol, processed foods, and even certain medications can quietly deplete your magnesium reserves. While you might brush off cramps or poor sleep as minor annoyances, they could actually be early SOS signals from your mitochondria.

It’s easy to overlook because the symptoms feel ordinary. Who hasn’t had a bad night’s sleep, felt stressed, or battled brain fog? But if these patterns keep repeating, they may be pointing to something bigger beneath the surface.

Unlike complex medical interventions, supporting your mitochondria can start on your plate. Dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, avocados, and even good-quality dark chocolate are all magnesium-rich options.

Simple lifestyle tweaks, like cutting down on processed foods, managing stress, and keeping caffeine and alcohol in check, also help preserve the magnesium you do have. For those with significant deficiencies, supplementation may be worth discussing with a healthcare provider.

magnesium

deficiency

mitochondria

energy

fatigue

cancer

diabetes

disease

Alzheimer's Disease

parkinsons disease

People pop supplements to sleep better, soothe their nerves, or stop those calf cramps. But what if we told you that the most dangerous consequence of low magnesium is not about tossing and turning or having twitchy legs at all?According to nutritionist Dr Eric Berg, also known as the Knowledge Doc, the real red flag is something far scarier and far more life-altering.It’s Not About Cramps, Stress, or PalpitationsWhen you think of magnesium deficiency, the usual problems that come to mind are cramping muscles, restless nights, and that fluttery feeling in your chest. Sure, they are uncomfortable. But as Dr. Eric Berg explains:“The most dangerous symptom of a magnesium deficiency is not muscle cramps, it's not anxiety or insomnia, and it's not heart palpitations. Those are warning signs of the silent red flag behind 80% of all chronic diseases. If you ignore it, it won't just disrupt your health; it will literally cause disease because it's at the heart of so many health problems.”Then, what is this “silent red flag”? According to Dr. Berg:“The most dangerous symptom of a magnesium deficiency is mitochondrial dysfunction. It's impossible for your mitochondria to make energy without magnesium, and most chronic diseases start with dysfunctional mitochondria.”Mitochondria are the microscopic “batteries” inside your cells. They’re the power stations that keep your heart pumping, your brain firing, and your muscles moving. Take magnesium out of the equation, and these little energy factories can’t run. Instead of fueling you, they fizzle out, and that’s when disease creeps in.From Tired Cells to Tired YouWhen your mitochondria don’t get enough magnesium, it leads to fatigue, brain fog, and slow recovery from workouts, which are just the tip of the iceberg.But as Dr. Berg says, mitochondrial dysfunction isn’t just about feeling drained; it’s linked to heavy hitters like cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. That means something as “simple” as a mineral deficiency could be a silent trigger for some of the most feared diseases of our time.Are You Missing the Signs?Magnesium deficiency is alarmingly common, thanks to modern diets and stress-filled lifestyles. Coffee, alcohol, processed foods, and even certain medications can quietly deplete your magnesium reserves. While you might brush off cramps or poor sleep as minor annoyances, they could actually be early SOS signals from your mitochondria.It’s easy to overlook because the symptoms feel ordinary. Who hasn’t had a bad night’s sleep, felt stressed, or battled brain fog? But if these patterns keep repeating, they may be pointing to something bigger beneath the surface.What You Can Do About ItUnlike complex medical interventions, supporting your mitochondria can start on your plate. Dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, avocados, and even good-quality dark chocolate are all magnesium-rich options.Simple lifestyle tweaks, like cutting down on processed foods, managing stress, and keeping caffeine and alcohol in check, also help preserve the magnesium you do have. For those with significant deficiencies, supplementation may be worth discussing with a healthcare provider.

the most dangerous sign your body is starving for magnesium

Ishita Roy

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In many parts of rural India, women are facing a grim choice: keep their uterus and lose wages every month due to painful, heavy periods—or undergo a <span>hysterectomy</span>, a permanent surgery to remove the uterus, sometimes even in their early 30s. This quiet but serious epidemic has been unfolding for years.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21), nearly 10% of Indian women aged 40–49 years had already undergone a hysterectomy. In states like Andhra Pradesh (22.5%), Telangana (21.2%), Bihar (17.2%) and Gujarat (11.7%), the numbers were far higher. More worrying is the median age, just 34 in rural India, more than a decade before natural menopause.

<h2>The Link Between Periods, Wages, and Surgery</h2>

For many rural women, particularly agricultural workers, menstruation is not just a health event but an economic setback. Migrant sugarcane workers in Maharashtra’s Beed district provide a stark example: here, hysterectomy prevalence was found to be as high as 56% in 2024, with women opting for the surgery at an average age of 35.

The reason is brutally pragmatic. Agricultural contractors often penalize women who take time off for menstruation. Period pain, excessive bleeding, and taboos around hygiene in the fields make working conditions even harder. In such an environment, hysterectomy is sold as a “permanent solution”, a way to eliminate menstrual problems and keep working without interruption.

A recent study published in <em>Social Science &amp; Medicine</em> also notes that this pattern is echoed in Telangana and Bihar, where women agricultural workers also show higher hysterectomy prevalence. Studies reveal that many women are advised surgery by private doctors even for common issues like abdominal pain or white discharge, often without being informed of alternatives.

<h2>The Price of <span rel="noindex">Early Hysterectomy</span></h2>

While hysterectomy can be medically necessary in certain cases, such as large fibroids, severe prolapse, or cancer, it is far from harmless when performed at a young age. The removal of the uterus, especially when combined with ovary removal, induces early menopause, triggering a cascade of health risks.

<h3>Research has linked early hysterectomy to:</h3>

<ul><li>Cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders</li><li>Bone density loss, raising fracture risk</li><li>Pelvic organ prolapse and urinary tract issues</li><li>Thyroid and urinary tract cancers</li><li>Mental health concerns, including depression and anxiety</li></ul>

In essence, what appears to be a short-term fix to save wages ends up cutting into a woman’s long-term working life and overall quality of life.

<h2>A System That Encourages Surgery</h2>

Part of the problem lies in India’s healthcare structure. As per NFHS-5, about 70% of hysterectomies were carried out in private clinics. Research in Andhra Pradesh found that women as young as 20 were recommended hysterectomy for routine gynecological complaints, reflecting both a profit motive and lack of awareness.

Insurance schemes also play a role. Data shows that women with health insurance were more likely to undergo hysterectomy. Reports suggest that some private hospitals encourage the surgery because insurance covers it, making it financially attractive for providers.

The National Health Authority has flagged suspiciously high hysterectomy claims under Ayushman Bharat, which at one point accounted for nearly 2% of all female claims. In response, stricter pre-authorization rules were introduced, including mandatory second opinions for women under 40.

<h2>Why Women Agree: Pragmatic Agency, Not Just Victimhood</h2>

While it is easy to frame rural women as victims of predatory healthcare, research tells a more nuanced story. A 2015 study in Social Science &amp; Medicine highlighted how women often exercised “pragmatic agency.” They weighed their options, continued monthly suffering, missed wages, social stigma of menstrual restrictions, against the perceived relief of hysterectomy. With limited non-surgical options offered by doctors and little awareness of long-term side effects, many saw it as their best way forward.

In interviews, women described themselves not just as patients but as workers and caretakers. Their health decisions were shaped less by medical advice and more by economic necessity, gendered expectations, and the absence of supportive healthcare alternatives.

womens health

reproductive health

health and wellness

early hysterectomy

Hysterectomy

removal of uterus

In many parts of rural India, women are facing a grim choice: keep their uterus and lose wages every month due to painful, heavy periods—or undergo a hysterectomy, a permanent surgery to remove the uterus, sometimes even in their early 30s. This quiet but serious epidemic has been unfolding for years.According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21), nearly 10% of Indian women aged 40–49 years had already undergone a hysterectomy. In states like Andhra Pradesh (22.5%), Telangana (21.2%), Bihar (17.2%) and Gujarat (11.7%), the numbers were far higher. More worrying is the median age, just 34 in rural India, more than a decade before natural menopause.The Link Between Periods, Wages, and SurgeryFor many rural women, particularly agricultural workers, menstruation is not just a health event but an economic setback. Migrant sugarcane workers in Maharashtra’s Beed district provide a stark example: here, hysterectomy prevalence was found to be as high as 56% in 2024, with women opting for the surgery at an average age of 35.The reason is brutally pragmatic. Agricultural contractors often penalize women who take time off for menstruation. Period pain, excessive bleeding, and taboos around hygiene in the fields make working conditions even harder. In such an environment, hysterectomy is sold as a “permanent solution”, a way to eliminate menstrual problems and keep working without interruption.A recent study published in Social Science & Medicine also notes that this pattern is echoed in Telangana and Bihar, where women agricultural workers also show higher hysterectomy prevalence. Studies reveal that many women are advised surgery by private doctors even for common issues like abdominal pain or white discharge, often without being informed of alternatives.The Price of Early HysterectomyWhile hysterectomy can be medically necessary in certain cases, such as large fibroids, severe prolapse, or cancer, it is far from harmless when performed at a young age. The removal of the uterus, especially when combined with ovary removal, induces early menopause, triggering a cascade of health risks.Research has linked early hysterectomy to:Cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disordersBone density loss, raising fracture riskPelvic organ prolapse and urinary tract issuesThyroid and urinary tract cancersMental health concerns, including depression and anxietyIn essence, what appears to be a short-term fix to save wages ends up cutting into a woman’s long-term working life and overall quality of life.A System That Encourages SurgeryPart of the problem lies in India’s healthcare structure. As per NFHS-5, about 70% of hysterectomies were carried out in private clinics. Research in Andhra Pradesh found that women as young as 20 were recommended hysterectomy for routine gynecological complaints, reflecting both a profit motive and lack of awareness.Insurance schemes also play a role. Data shows that women with health insurance were more likely to undergo hysterectomy. Reports suggest that some private hospitals encourage the surgery because insurance covers it, making it financially attractive for providers.The National Health Authority has flagged suspiciously high hysterectomy claims under Ayushman Bharat, which at one point accounted for nearly 2% of all female claims. In response, stricter pre-authorization rules were introduced, including mandatory second opinions for women under 40.Why Women Agree: Pragmatic Agency, Not Just VictimhoodWhile it is easy to frame rural women as victims of predatory healthcare, research tells a more nuanced story. A 2015 study in Social Science & Medicine highlighted how women often exercised “pragmatic agency.” They weighed their options, continued monthly suffering, missed wages, social stigma of menstrual restrictions, against the perceived relief of hysterectomy. With limited non-surgical options offered by doctors and little awareness of long-term side effects, many saw it as their best way forward.In interviews, women described themselves not just as patients but as workers and caretakers. Their health decisions were shaped less by medical advice and more by economic necessity, gendered expectations, and the absence of supportive healthcare alternatives.

to avoid wage loss, women in rural india are undergoing hysterectomy

Tanya Dutt

Phantom Limb Sensations Solved? Your Brain's Body Map Stays Intact Even After Amputation

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Within the human brain is a highly detailed map of the body. The somatosensory cortex is the area that contains distinct areas for different body parts. It is responsible for processing sensations such as touch, temperature, pain, and body position. Neuroscientists had long believed that when a limb is lost to amputation, this map of the body sees dramatic reorganization, with adjacent areas "taking over" the space previously allocated to the absent limb.

The recent study led by researchers at University College London (UCL) and published in Nature Neuroscience refutes this perspective. The research reveals that the <span>brain map</span> of the body is remarkably preserved, years after amputation. This discovery not only redraws our picture of brain plasticity but also has far-reaching implications for <span>phantom limb pain</span> and the future of prosthetic technology.

To see if the brain map actually reorganizes, scientists made a radical departure from the usual method. Rather than waiting until after amputation to study patients, the scientists observed three patients who were scheduled for hand removal because of medical reasons. Before they were operated on, volunteers were put in an MRI machine and asked to wiggle individual fingers and press their lips together, so scientists could chart their brain activity.

These scans showed the predicted organization: fingers were on their own areas in the brain, next to the one that controlled the lips. After amputation, the same volunteers came back for follow-up scans three months, six months, and, in a few instances, years later. This time, they were to imagine moving their missing fingers, a phenomenon commonly known as <span>phantom limb</span> movement.

The outcome was amazing. The maps of their hands remained very stable. The brain areas allotted to their missing fingers continued to activate as if the hand was still present physically.

<h2>Why Missing Limbs Still Exist in Your Mind?</h2>

The survival of these brain maps is one reason amputees often describe phantom limb sensations. Many feel their missing hand or foot as though it were intact. In a few instances, the sensations become painful, resulting in what is referred to as phantom limb pain.

For years, researchers hypothesized that pain like this resulted from the body map of the brain being disrupted or "hijacked" by adjacent body parts, like lips or face. This hypothesis led to treatments like mirror therapy and virtual reality exercises aimed at "retraining" the brain map. But clinical tests again and again registered disappointing findings, often no more effective than placebos.

The new research makes clear why: the map was never broken to begin with. The neural representation of the hand remains, even after the limb is lost.

<h2>Strange Science Behind Phantom Touch</h2>

If that is the case, why did previous research assert that the brain remaps following <span>limb loss</span>? The reason is methodology. The majority of previous studies employed indirect methods, stimulating body parts and seeing what parts of the brain reacted. Because the lost limb could no longer be stimulated, surrounding areas appeared to "take over." But as this new research illustrates, the hand map was always there—it just wasn't measured directly.

Professor Tamar Makin, who is the co-senior author of the study and a neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge, summarized it starkly: "It appears remarkable that the somatosensory cortex doesn't realize the hand isn't there anymore. The degree of stability was jaw-dropping."

If phantom limb pain is not the result of a jumbled brain map, then what is responsible? Scientists think the solution lies in the cut-off nerves in the residual limb. Nerves, when amputated, are severed from their sensory targets and can develop knotty clumps that fire off unpredictable messages to the brain. These "noisy" messages can mislead the brain into feeling pain where a body part no longer exists.

One of the participants in the study had a more advanced surgical technique, involving grafting nerves into new muscles, to give them a new home. He experienced no phantom pain following amputation, while the two participants with normal procedures continued to endure. This indicates that refining surgical techniques might be a better avenue for fixing phantom pain than attempting to "correct" brain maps.

Arguably the most thrilling application of this study is its potential for advanced prosthetics. If the map of the brain corresponding to a lost hand is still intact, engineers can create brain-computer interfaces that interface directly with that existing map. That would enable amputees not just to operate robot hands mentally but also to feel real sensations like texture, temperature, and pressure.

Dr. Chris Baker, one of the co-authors at the National Institute of Mental Health, made this clear: "If the brain rewired itself after amputation, brain-computer interfaces would fail. But since the maps remain intact, these technologies can work with remarkable precision."

That is, the phantom hand is still alive in the brain, just waiting to be reattached either through fancy surgery or neural prosthetics.

<h2>Can We Hack <span rel="noindex">Neuroplasticity</span> to Ease Phantom Pain?</h2>

For many years, neuroscientists cheered the fact that the brain has the capacity to remake itself, and they used it as evidence of plasticity and resilience. This research does not negate plasticity but redescribes it. The brain's central body maps seem to be more fixed than previously thought. Instead of erasing old maps, the brain stores them, perhaps as redundancy or preparation for future repair.

This stability is welcome news. It implies that therapies and technologies can tap into these long-lasting maps instead of attempting to reconstruct them anew. It also changes how scientists think about rehabilitating after brain or body injury.

The finding that the brain map of the body is not altered by amputation is a salutary reminder of how much there is to learn about the brain. For amputees, it provides both insight into phantom limb phenomena and optimism about improved therapies. For technologists, it promises more intuitive and natural prosthetic devices. And for the entire field of neuroscience, it refutes long-standing assumptions about whether the brain is fixed or flexible.

phantom limb

brain map

neuroplasticity

limb loss

phantom limb pain

neuroscience research

body map brain

Within the human brain is a highly detailed map of the body. The somatosensory cortex is the area that contains distinct areas for different body parts. It is responsible for processing sensations such as touch, temperature, pain, and body position. Neuroscientists had long believed that when a limb is lost to amputation, this map of the body sees dramatic reorganization, with adjacent areas "taking over" the space previously allocated to the absent limb.The recent study led by researchers at University College London (UCL) and published in Nature Neuroscience refutes this perspective. The research reveals that the brain map of the body is remarkably preserved, years after amputation. This discovery not only redraws our picture of brain plasticity but also has far-reaching implications for phantom limb pain and the future of prosthetic technology.To see if the brain map actually reorganizes, scientists made a radical departure from the usual method. Rather than waiting until after amputation to study patients, the scientists observed three patients who were scheduled for hand removal because of medical reasons. Before they were operated on, volunteers were put in an MRI machine and asked to wiggle individual fingers and press their lips together, so scientists could chart their brain activity.These scans showed the predicted organization: fingers were on their own areas in the brain, next to the one that controlled the lips. After amputation, the same volunteers came back for follow-up scans three months, six months, and, in a few instances, years later. This time, they were to imagine moving their missing fingers, a phenomenon commonly known as phantom limb movement.The outcome was amazing. The maps of their hands remained very stable. The brain areas allotted to their missing fingers continued to activate as if the hand was still present physically.Why Missing Limbs Still Exist in Your Mind?The survival of these brain maps is one reason amputees often describe phantom limb sensations. Many feel their missing hand or foot as though it were intact. In a few instances, the sensations become painful, resulting in what is referred to as phantom limb pain.For years, researchers hypothesized that pain like this resulted from the body map of the brain being disrupted or "hijacked" by adjacent body parts, like lips or face. This hypothesis led to treatments like mirror therapy and virtual reality exercises aimed at "retraining" the brain map. But clinical tests again and again registered disappointing findings, often no more effective than placebos.The new research makes clear why: the map was never broken to begin with. The neural representation of the hand remains, even after the limb is lost.Strange Science Behind Phantom TouchIf that is the case, why did previous research assert that the brain remaps following limb loss? The reason is methodology. The majority of previous studies employed indirect methods, stimulating body parts and seeing what parts of the brain reacted. Because the lost limb could no longer be stimulated, surrounding areas appeared to "take over." But as this new research illustrates, the hand map was always there—it just wasn't measured directly.Professor Tamar Makin, who is the co-senior author of the study and a neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge, summarized it starkly: "It appears remarkable that the somatosensory cortex doesn't realize the hand isn't there anymore. The degree of stability was jaw-dropping."If phantom limb pain is not the result of a jumbled brain map, then what is responsible? Scientists think the solution lies in the cut-off nerves in the residual limb. Nerves, when amputated, are severed from their sensory targets and can develop knotty clumps that fire off unpredictable messages to the brain. These "noisy" messages can mislead the brain into feeling pain where a body part no longer exists.One of the participants in the study had a more advanced surgical technique, involving grafting nerves into new muscles, to give them a new home. He experienced no phantom pain following amputation, while the two participants with normal procedures continued to endure. This indicates that refining surgical techniques might be a better avenue for fixing phantom pain than attempting to "correct" brain maps.What This Means for Amputees?Arguably the most thrilling application of this study is its potential for advanced prosthetics. If the map of the brain corresponding to a lost hand is still intact, engineers can create brain-computer interfaces that interface directly with that existing map. That would enable amputees not just to operate robot hands mentally but also to feel real sensations like texture, temperature, and pressure.Dr. Chris Baker, one of the co-authors at the National Institute of Mental Health, made this clear: "If the brain rewired itself after amputation, brain-computer interfaces would fail. But since the maps remain intact, these technologies can work with remarkable precision."That is, the phantom hand is still alive in the brain, just waiting to be reattached either through fancy surgery or neural prosthetics.Can We Hack Neuroplasticity to Ease Phantom Pain?For many years, neuroscientists cheered the fact that the brain has the capacity to remake itself, and they used it as evidence of plasticity and resilience. This research does not negate plasticity but redescribes it. The brain's central body maps seem to be more fixed than previously thought. Instead of erasing old maps, the brain stores them, perhaps as redundancy or preparation for future repair.This stability is welcome news. It implies that therapies and technologies can tap into these long-lasting maps instead of attempting to reconstruct them anew. It also changes how scientists think about rehabilitating after brain or body injury.The finding that the brain map of the body is not altered by amputation is a salutary reminder of how much there is to learn about the brain. For amputees, it provides both insight into phantom limb phenomena and optimism about improved therapies. For technologists, it promises more intuitive and natural prosthetic devices. And for the entire field of neuroscience, it refutes long-standing assumptions about whether the brain is fixed or flexible.

phantom limb sensations solved? your brain's body map stays intact even after amputation

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