In patients with phantom limb , the primary somatosensory cortex may undergo reorganizatioD of receptive field representation ( invasion of the phant〔,m limb area by the adjacent area ) . It has been rep 〔 レ rted that this reor − ganization is highly correlated with phantom limb pain and unrelated to the non − painful phantom sensation . These findings led to t : he hypothesis that restoration of the original cortical organization might diminish phantom limb pain . Similar reorganization of

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... ptive field representation within the thalamic sensory relay nucleus has been shown by microrecordings and m { crostimulation during surgery for therapeutic electrode implantatiol 】 , We review the published data and our own experience regarding the ef 〔 ects of neurostimulation therapies on phantom limb pain( spinal cord , thalamic sensory relay nucleus and motor cortex )仕om a view point that neurostimulation thera − pies produce their effects through restoration of the original receptive 丘eld organization by artificial input to the representation of the phantoml limb area . Many phenomena observed during neurostimulation therapies are better explained by such a hypothesis rather than classic gate control theory.