Question

scientists continue to investigate the role of both the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system in phantom pain. scientists do not know exactly what causes phantom pain or whether the cause is the same for every person. different scientists have different hypotheses, or possible explanations, about the cause of phantom pain. scientists have tested these hypotheses and have found different results, or observations, from different studies.
decide whether each statement below is a hypothesis or a result from a study. put each tile into the correct column.

hypothesis
result

phantom pain is caused by atypical signals from severed nerves.
phantom pain is caused by changes to the somatosensory cortex.
the somatosensory cortex sometimes changes after an amputation.
anesthetics can relieve phantom pain in some patients.
treatments that reverse the changes in the somatosensory cortex sometimes stop phantom pain.

Explanation:

A hypothesis is a testable proposed explanation for a phenomenon, while a result is an observed outcome from a study.

1. "Phantom pain is caused by atypical signals from severed nerves." is a proposed explanation for phantom pain, so it is a hypothesis.
2. "Phantom pain is caused by changes to the somatosensory cortex." is a proposed explanation for phantom pain, so it is a hypothesis.
3. "The somatosensory cortex sometimes changes after an amputation." is an observed outcome from research, so it is a result.
4. "Anesthetics can relieve phantom pain in some patients." is an observed outcome from testing, so it is a result.
5. "Treatments that reverse the changes in the somatosensory cortex sometimes stop phantom pain." is an observed outcome from treatment testing, so it is a result.

Answer:

Hypothesis:

• Phantom pain is caused by atypical signals from severed nerves.
• Phantom pain is caused by changes to the somatosensory cortex.

Result:

• The somatosensory cortex sometimes changes after an amputation.
• Anesthetics can relieve phantom pain in some patients.
• Treatments that reverse the changes in the somatosensory cortex sometimes stop phantom pain.