Effects of Rubber Hand Illusion on Tactile Processing
Author Information
Author(s): Satoshi Shibuya, Yukari Ohki
Primary Institution: Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan
Hypothesis
Greater effects of the rubber hand illusion on tactile temporal order judgment may be observed for the nondominant hand than for the dominant hand in right-handed participants.
Conclusion
The study suggests that the rubber hand illusion can attenuate tactile processing, particularly in the illusion-affected hand.
Supporting Evidence
- The rubber hand illusion can shift the point of subjective simultaneity in tactile processing.
- Participants reported higher ownership ratings in the rubber hand illusion condition compared to the non-illusion condition.
- Significant differences in tactile processing were observed between the illusion-affected and non-affected hands.
Takeaway
When people see a fake hand being touched while their real hand is hidden, they might feel like the fake hand is theirs, which can make it harder for them to judge when they feel touches on their hands.
Methodology
Participants performed tactile temporal order judgment tasks under rubber hand illusion and non-illusion conditions, with vibrotactile stimuli delivered to both hands.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the self-reported nature of ownership ratings and the small sample size.
Limitations
The sample sizes were relatively small, and the study's findings may not generalize to larger populations.
Participant Demographics
18 participants in Experiment 1 (11 men, 7 women; mean age 22.4 years) and 20 participants in Experiment 2 (10 men, 10 women; mean age 25.7 years), all right-handed.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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