When interacting in virtual reality environments, some people experience unexplained tactile sensations. Neuroscientists at the Ruhrde University Bochum in Germany investigated this phenomenon, which was named the “Phantom Touch Illusion” or PTI. In turn, they published an article titled “The Phantom Touch Illusion” in “Scientific Reports.”
What is the phantom touch illusion?
When interacting in virtual environments, some people report feeling like someone is touching them. This phenomenon, called tactile activation, occurs without any physical stimuli present. It is a peculiar experience that involves feeling physical contact where there is none in reality.
The thin line between perception and reality is seen in the nature of the brain’s interpretation of sensory stimuli. Traditionally, we associate this interpretation with the five senses.
However, the team of researchers from Germany identified a phenomenon that challenges this long-held notion: the “phantom touch illusion” (PTI).
A new dimension is revealed in the way the human brain interacts with its environment. It is an intriguing phenomenon that redefines our understanding of tactile perception, since it is touch without contact.
Details of the research development
36 individuals participated, ranging in age from 21 to 42 years. Equipped with virtual reality glasses, they could see the scene and their virtual hands clearly. They had to move freely and touch objects they saw on a virtual table.
When exploring the sixth sense (PTI), they felt sensations in parts of the body not present in reality. This sensation, described as electrifying, was common among participants, which in turn was sometimes accompanied by an itchy sensation.
When these people were questioned, they expressed that they felt something. 89% of the participants reported sensations, evidencing a significant difference with another group that did not have visual stimulation.
The researchers emphasize that they did not influence the subjects about the sensory perceptions they could notice. This guarantees the objectivity and validity of the results. In experiments, avoiding cues about expected sensations preserves the integrity of the data. This promotes impartiality in the interpretation of the results obtained.
They also excluded heat, airflow or other physical sensations caused by hand movement. They suggest that tactile activation depends not only on the senses, but also on the body schema. The reported presence without vision of body parts supports this conclusion.
A new perspective for cognitive neuroscience
Some called this illusion the sixth sense because of its resemblance to touch. Although it resembles the real sensation, it is not a sense in itself. It does not respond to a specific stimulus, but to a complex combination of sensory perceptions.
This topic arouses great interest in the scientific community, since it can impact everything from neuroscience to technology. It opens new perspectives for research in the field of cognitive neuroscience. The authors of the study affirm that understanding this phenomenon expands our knowledge of the brain and advances our understanding of neurological diseases.
