In this study it is demonstrated that what visually appear to be strokes on the index finger can be felt as real despite the fact that the synchronous actual stroke is being carried out on a different finger that is occluded from sight. This illusory stroke effect was stronger between the middle and index fingers than was the case between the index and other fingers. This illusion clearly shows that the synchronized input of visual and tactile cues can induce the tactile mislocalization of a body part even at the tactile localization's suprathreshold intensity and that, furthermore, the strength of the effect depends on the anatomical proximity between the body parts involved.
BotvinickMCohenJ, 1998“Rubber hands ‘feel’ touch that eyes see”Nature391(19) 756
2.
IwamuraYTanakaMSakamotoMHikosakaO, 1983“Functional subdivisions representing different finger regions in area 3 of the first somatosensory cortex of the conscious monkey”Experimental Brain Research51315–326
3.
SchweizerRMaierMBraunCBirbaumerN, 2000“Distribution of mislocalizations of tactile stimuli on the fingers of the human hand”Somatosensory & Motor Research17309–316
