When the stump begins to move to complete a task (like picking up a ball), the mistake in attempting to use the phantom limb is realized and simultaneously there is often, but not always, a monetary sensation of the phantom (however this ceases within a few months for the patients "quickly learn to avoid making mistakes"). One possible explanation for this is that the cortex is in a hypersensitive state, enabling the normally subconscious reflexes locally to reach a conscious level.