The brain's a wonderful thing.

[laserblazer]

One of our teachers has been telling me about the long term problems with her wrist. Because she has limited movement at the moment, she has to put her other hand next to a mirror and exercise it whilst looking at the mirror. The brain thinks it's the poorly hand, which keeps the hand moving algorithms up to scratch.

[X-13]

If that works... then the problem is all in her head.

[Greenbeast]

If that works... then the problem is all in her head.

Not at all, what if she broke her hand which required years of treatment before it moved again, that's not in her head but her brain may 'forget' how to use the hand in that time

[X-13]

her brain may 'forget' how to use the hand in that time

Shenanigns.


Plus, "long term wrist problems" sounds like it's something similar to carpal tunnel. You can't fix that by faking the excersises with your other hand and a mirror.

Also... If her brain "forgot"... it is all in her head. :P

[laserblazer]

It's a bad break that has to be reset and pinned and what @Greenbeast says seems to be the theory behind it. @X-13, if you can pm me your details, I'll pass them on to her as you seem to know more about it than her consultant

[Pyroman]

BBC had an article about something similar

BBC News - What phantom limbs and mirrors teach us about the brain

[X-13]

@X-13, if you can pm me your details, I'll pass them on to her as you seem to know more about it than her consultant

She couldn't afford me. I charge by the second.

It still sounds dodgy to me. Even though it is a real thing.

[Greenbeast]

how the brain interprets/sends signals can be altered as proved by the upside down vision test.
The brain has to learn how to interpret senses and how to use signals to tell the limbs what to do.

[plexer]

There is a Derren Brown trick that exploited this effect.

Ben