phantom limb

This term describes a neurological phenomenon where the brain continues to perceive a limb that is no longer physically present. It is most frequently used in medical and psychological contexts to describe the sensory experience of patients who have undergone amputation.

While the term is primarily clinical, it is occasionally used as a metaphor for a lingering sense of loss or a psychological attachment to something that has been removed from one's life, though such usage is far less common than the literal medical application.