The fact that the human brain has a hard-wired body map (or neuro-somatic blueprint) so much so that people born outside of that experience phantom sensations gives me questions.
Just looking at the binary, how do we all not have phantom phallus or phantom labia/vagina? If it’s because of signals to the brain whilst the binary sex is developing—then what about everything outside the binary like intersex, when everything doesn't "line up?"
A lot of what comes up is specifically around transgender people and their affirmative surgeries.
"Trans phantoms" exist: "bodily sensations of gendered body parts that a person was not born with (i.e., a phantom penis experienced by a trans man, or a phantom vagina experienced by a trans woman)" which is distinctly different from dysphoria. "TGD [transgender and gender diverse] individuals, of course; cisgender people are also capable of experiencing gendered body parts with which they were not born, though such reports seem to be far less commonplace and anecdotal."
These phantom sensations need to be treated with external treatment, btw. The phantoms can include gendered parts instead of primary or secondary sex characteristics such as lips, hips and thighs. There was an "other" option which I imagine means shoulders, butt, possibly tummy, and maybe even feet and hands, and facial features.) Erotic sensations are a big part here also.
I hope this et al does another study with the expanded and more specific parameters they want.
Can't access, The Injured World: Intersex and the Phenomenology of Feeling
For my transmasc audience: Phantom Penis: Extrapolating Neuroscience and Employing Imagination for Trans Male Sexual Embodiment
Four pages of google and this is the specific intersex focus: CRIPPING INTERSEX pdf, Neurological Considerations for “Nerve-Sparing” Cosmetic Genital Surgeries Performed on Children with XX Chromosomes Diagnosed with 21-Hydroxylase Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and Clitoromegaly, and this video, Exploring Intersex with Hilda Vioria. No phantom mentions I could find.
Societal gender structures seem to play a big part in the trans phantoms, so how is that different in a different set of societal genders, and how would it change if we dropped all this gender essentialism shit?
But then also, do otherkin or non-human alters experience phantom sensations? The predictive processing extending to physical sensations seems to imply that.
What I've been able to find on message boards/forums thus far:
r/Intersex: Anyone else struggle with phantom peen syndrome?
r/Intersex: periods in intersex people?
This reddit comment: "i do sometimes experience a phantom penis. i don't want to explain it in detail but i will say i'm also alterhuman and experience phantom appendages like a tail and wings and my phantom penis feels about the same as those."
... I may have discovered something about myself today... but my eyes feel weird so Imma go ahead and put that on hold.
If anyone finds other articles or wants to/feel comfortable to share their feelings and/or experiences, I invite you!