Scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne have developed a technology that allows amputees to feel temperature again. Special sensors and thermoelectric elements stimulate nerve endings, creating realistic thermal sensations in phantom limbs.
Previously, prostheses could not transmit temperature: modern bionic models are equipped with motion sensors, but the sensation of heat and cold remained unavailable. Now researchers have shown for the first time that nerves can be stimulated so that the brain perceives temperature in a phantom limb, marking a genuine breakthrough.
In experiments, participants using a modified prosthesis were able to identify the temperature of objects without error. The sensation of warmth helps patients perceive the phantom hand as real, significantly improving quality of life and making interaction with the surrounding environment more complete.
