TY - JOUR
T1 - Two hands are better than one
T2 - A new assessment method and a new interpretation of the non-visual illusion of self-touch
AU - White, Rebekah C.
AU - Aimola Davies, Anne M.
AU - Davies, Martin
PY - 2011/9
Y1 - 2011/9
N2 - A simple experimental paradigm creates the powerful illusion that one is touching one's own hand even when the two hands are separated by 15. cm. The participant uses her right hand to administer stimulation to a prosthetic hand while the Examiner provides identical stimulation to the participant's receptive left hand. Change in felt position of the receptive hand toward the prosthetic hand has previously led to the interpretation that the participant experiences self-touch at the location of the prosthetic hand, and experiences a sense of ownership of the prosthetic hand. Our results argue against this interpretation. We assessed change in felt position of the participant's receptive hand but we also assessed change in felt position of the participant's administering hand. Change in felt position of the administering hand was significantly greater than change in felt position of the receptive hand. Implications for theories of ownership are discussed.
AB - A simple experimental paradigm creates the powerful illusion that one is touching one's own hand even when the two hands are separated by 15. cm. The participant uses her right hand to administer stimulation to a prosthetic hand while the Examiner provides identical stimulation to the participant's receptive left hand. Change in felt position of the receptive hand toward the prosthetic hand has previously led to the interpretation that the participant experiences self-touch at the location of the prosthetic hand, and experiences a sense of ownership of the prosthetic hand. Our results argue against this interpretation. We assessed change in felt position of the participant's receptive hand but we also assessed change in felt position of the participant's administering hand. Change in felt position of the administering hand was significantly greater than change in felt position of the receptive hand. Implications for theories of ownership are discussed.
KW - Body representation
KW - Proprioceptive drift
KW - Rubber hand illusion
KW - Self-touch
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80955181113&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.concog.2011.03.021
DO - 10.1016/j.concog.2011.03.021
M3 - Article
C2 - 21621425
AN - SCOPUS:80955181113
SN - 1053-8100
VL - 20
SP - 956
EP - 964
JO - Consciousness and cognition
JF - Consciousness and cognition
IS - 3
ER -