The Brain’s Body Map Remains Intact After Amputation

21 August 2025

New research from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the University of Cambridge challenges a long-standing belief about brain plasticity. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, shows that the brain’s “body map” remains stable even after the loss of a limb.

For decades, scientists believed that when a limb was amputated, the brain regions once dedicated to that limb were gradually taken over by neighboring areas. This theory, however, never fully explained why many people continue to experience vivid sensations of the missing limb, a phenomenon known as phantom limb.

The new study followed three patients undergoing hand amputation, using functional MRI scans taken before and after surgery. Participants were asked to move their fingers or purse their lips while in the scanner, allowing researchers to observe the corresponding brain activity. Results revealed remarkable stability: even months or years after amputation, the brain regions linked to the missing hand were still activated almost as if the hand were still there.

These findings overturn the traditional view of radical reorganization within the somatosensory cortex. Instead, the body’s map in the brain remains intact, without being overtaken by neighboring areas such as the lips. According to the researchers, earlier studies may have misinterpreted signals from overlapping brain regions, leading to a misconception.

The clinical implications are significant. When it comes to phantom limb pain, the results suggest that therapies aimed at “rebuilding” the limb’s brain representation may have limited effectiveness. More promising approaches involve surgical techniques that reconnect residual nerves to muscles or skin tissue, reducing the faulty signals that cause pain. In fact, one patient who underwent such a procedure reported being completely pain-free after surgery.

The research also holds promise for neurotechnology. Knowing that the brain’s body map remains stable over time allows for the development of more precise and durable brain-computer interfaces, capable of controlling robotic limbs or restoring complex sensations. This brings us closer to the goal of returning not only movement but also the perception of texture, shape, and temperature to people living with amputations or paralysis.

Ultimately, this study represents an important step forward in understanding how the brain preserves the body’s representation, with profound implications for both pain management and the future of rehabilitative neuroscience.

Read the press release: Gone but not Forgotten: The Brain’s Map of the Body Remains Unchanged After Amputation