Gray Matter Volume Loss after Upper Limb Amputation

Background: Brain plasticity occurs as a result of sensory and motor adaptation to increased or altered use and leads to reorganization of the respective representations [1]. Plasticity of the adult human brain following deafferentation has only been assessed functionally, revealing functional reorganization of somatosensory and motor cortices [2, 3]. Only a few reports exist reporting plasticity of groß brain structure [4]. In this study we explored whether structural brain plasticity occurs after amputation of the upper limb. Methods: We investigated a 33-year-old, right-handed male patient with an amputation…