Developments towards a psychophysical testing platform - A computerized tool to control, deliver and evaluate electrical stimulation to relieve phantom limb pain

Abstract

Artificially inducing phantom hand sensations by electrical stimulation may reduce PLP. The use of implantable, multi-channel microelectrodes provides the opportunity to selectively activate sensory fibres. However, combinations of variables from a multichannel stimulation system can produce a huge number of possible stimulation paradigms. It makes the use of psychophysical evaluation of the evoked sensations an impractical and time-consuming task in the clinical setting. Our aim is to develop a computerized, automatic, psychophysical testing platform to support control, delivery and evaluation of the electrical stimulation for PLP relief. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.