Bionic technology allows amputees to feel warmth in missing hand
Swiss and Italian researchers have developed a technology to enable people with amputated hands to feel temperature differences – via a “phantom hand” effect.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/Reuters/dos
Português
pt
Tecnologia biônica permite que amputados sintam calor na mão perdida
The discovery came as something of a surprise, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) said on ThursdayExternal link.
When the researchers placed thermal electrodes on the arm stumps of study participants, the expectation was that they would report feeling warmth or cold on the stump itself. However, 17 of the 27 participants felt temperature variations on the missing hand – a discovery which the scientists, also from the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, called a “thermal phantom sensation”.
Not only could the patients feel whether an object was hot or cold – they could also tell if they were touching copper, plastic or glass.
Which position could be assigned to which part of the phantom hand was also unique for each patient.
No implants
The technology, which has been tested for more than two years, does not need to be implanted. It can be worn on the skin and combined with a regular prosthetic.
Silvestro Micera, a co-leader of the study, told Reuters that they now wanted to test the device on a larger scale before combining it with other technologies to improve tactile sensations in amputees.
Not only were the researchers enthusiastic about this, but also the study participants. “It was the first time in 20 years that I could actually feel the warmth of another person with my phantom hand. It felt like someone was touching my missing hand,” said participant Roberto Renda. “It’s like I have a connection to someone.”
Swiss football boss wants crackdown on individual hooligans
This content was published on
The head of the Swiss Football League says he prefers a harsher approach to individual hooligans rather than collective punishment measures affecting all fans.
Amherd: Council of Europe is ‘as urgently needed as ever’
This content was published on
The Swiss government emphasised on Sunday the vital role of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe, 75 years after it was founded.
Swiss minister: Italy will back Switzerland in EU talks
This content was published on
Bern can count on the backing of Italy as it re-enters talks with the European Union on future relations, Viola Amherd says.
Student protestors at University of Lausanne continue pro-Palestine sit-in
This content was published on
Since Thursday, a hall on campus has been occupied by students calling for a boycott of Israeli academic institutions and a ceasefire in Gaza.
This content was published on
Swiss public broadcasters RTS and SRF are drastically reducing their communications via the social network X (formerly Twitter).
Israel: president of Swiss universities rejects academic boycott
This content was published on
Luciana Vaccaro, president of Swissuniversities, the umbrella group of Swiss universities, is not in favour of an academic boycott of Israeli universities.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.