Relationship between Bodily Illusions and Pain Syndromes

Abstract

SUMMARY Apart from their contribution to the overall knowledge of perception and related processes, sensory illusions have been used in recent years to treat and better understand pain disorders such as phantom limb pain or complex regional pain syndrome. With the help of modern imaging techniques, we can examine connections between basic processes of integrative perception and the occurrence of chronic pain. This article gives an overview of recent developments in the area of body illusions and pain, and provides suggestions on how they might lead to novel and effective treatments for chronic pain.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by the PHANTOMMIND project (Phantom phenomena: a window to the mind and the brain), which receives research funding from the European Community‘s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013)/ERC Grant Agreement No. 230249. This manuscript reflects only the author‘s views and the Community is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the PHANTOMMIND project (Phantom phenomena: a window to the mind and the brain), which receives research funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013)/ERC Grant Agreement No. 230249. This manuscript reflects only the author‘s views and the Community is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.