Final answer:
Dr. Ramachandran received the first federal chiropractic research grant and investigated neural plasticity in relation to phantom limbs, which was a poorly understood condition at the time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The recipient of the first federal chiropractic research grant was Dr. Ramachandran, who used the grant to study a theory based on existing literature on neural plasticity. His research focused primarily on phantom limbs, a condition that was not well understood scientifically at the time. Dr. Ramachandran formulated his research question on the basis that there was limited scientific investigation into the phenomenon of phantom limbs, despite anecdotal and clinical observations. His pioneering work contributed significantly to the fields of neurology and chiropractic research.