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breast-phantom phenomenon

the illusion that an amputated breast is still present, often manifested as a tingling or, occasionally, painful sensation in the area of the missing organ; in some cases, the individual may even deny that the breast has been removed. It is thought that the brain’s representation of the breast remains intact and, in the absence of normal somesthetic stimulation, becomes active either spontaneously or as a result of stimulation from other brain tissue. See also phantom limb.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

psychonomic

psychonomic

adj. denoting an approach to psychology that emphasizes quantitative measurement, experimental control, and operational definitions, especially in the area of experimental, laboratory psychology. The word was coined to provide a name for the Psychonomic Society, which was created in 1959 by a number of experimental psychologists who were opposed to what they regarded as a swing in the American Psychological Association toward an emphasis on the mental health concerns of psychology. See experimental psychology.