ABSTRACT
Phantom limbs can cause their owners all sorts of trouble. The cause of phantom pains is not always a mystery. When a limb is amputated, the nerves in it are severed. The frayed endings heal, but often little globules of scar tissue develop, called neuromas. These may cause all kinds of discomfort, from mild itching to excruciating pain. The growth and emancipation of the inner world marked the beginning of typically human kinds of intelligence, of creativity, and of free will. Intelligent behavior takes into account more than just the information that happens to reach the brain at a particular moment in time. Naturally, being able to respond to stimuli more quickly and powerfully is an advantage. So it is not surprising that creatures from all corners of the animal kingdom have developed memories. There must have been serious selectional pressure favoring those individuals with the longest afterglow period.
