Following arm-amputation, brain areas that previously operated the hand will be freed-up, and could potentially be “recruited” to work for other body parts (brain reorganisation). I will present recent results and ideas about how the brain undergoes reorganisation due to hand loss and the need to pick up alternative behavioural strategies. I will explore the neural correlates of a range of alternative hand functions, including extraordinarily dexterous foot usage, artificial limbs and supernumerary robotic fingers. Based on these findings I will challenge some of the basic textbook assumptions about the triggers and barriers of brain reorganisation, and suggest an alternative framework.