What is The Mirror Box?

The mirror box is an upright mirror placed in a cardboard box whose top and front have been removed. It is a simple device that Dr. Ramachandran developed to test the complex issue of phantom limbs. A patient "holds" their phantom limb behind the mirror and holds their intact limb up in front of the mirror in such a way that its reflection appears to be the phantom limb. By moving the intact arm and observing its reflection, the patient can actually "feel" the sensation of movement in the phantom limb. In some cases, repeated therapy with the mirror box can reduce or eliminate pain in the phantom limb, or even cause the phenomenon of the phantom limb to disappear.