Training the brain to reduce phantom limb pain
Official title: Operant conditioning of sensory evoked potentials to reduce phantom limb pain
Funded at Stratton Veterans Admin Medical Center · NIH-10851754 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new, gentle therapy to help people who have lost a limb feel less phantom limb pain by training their brains to better process sensations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stratton Veterans Admin Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| NIH project number | 5I21RX004410-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10851754 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced limb amputation and suffer from phantom limb pain.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced limb amputation or do not suffer from phantom limb pain may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new non-invasive therapy aimed at reducing phantom limb pain (PLP) in individuals who have lost a limb. It focuses on enhancing the brain's sensory processing through a method called operant conditioning, which trains patients to increase their sensory evoked potentials (SEPs). By restoring normal organization in the somatosensory cortex, the therapy aims to alleviate the pain sensations associated with PLP. Participants will engage in targeted neuroplasticity exercises designed to improve their brain's response to sensory stimuli.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce phantom limb pain and improve the quality of life for amputees.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success with similar neuroplasticity approaches in enhancing recovery from various neurological conditions, indicating potential for this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
Stratton Veterans Admin Medical Center
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brangaccio, Jodi Ann — Stratton Veterans Admin Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Brangaccio, Jodi Ann
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Home brain stimulation plus guided touch for phantom limb pain
This project sees if a portable brain stimulation device combined with guided touch exercises can lower phantom limb pain for people who have lost a limb.
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Home-based rehabilitation for phantom limb pain using a mobile app
A mobile app offers guided graded motor imagery exercises to help Veterans with lower-limb amputations manage phantom limb pain at home.
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Home-based therapy for managing phantom limb pain in Veterans with amputations
This study is creating a friendly mobile app to help Veterans with lower limb amputations manage phantom limb pain using fun exercises that train the brain, and we want to hear from them to make sure the app works well for their needs.
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Understanding what causes phantom limb pain after amputation
This study is looking at what causes phantom limb pain in people who have had an amputation, and it involves talking to those individuals to better understand their experiences and gather real-time feedback to help create more personalized treatments.
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Neuropathic pain after childhood amputation
This project sees how common phantom and residual limb neuropathic pain is and how it affects children and teens who had limb amputations.
-
Effects of magnetic stimulation on phantom limb pain in amputees
This study tests if using magnetic stimulation can help reduce phantom limb pain in people who have had upper limb amputations.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.