Phantom sensation with painful stimuli

Abstract

Phantom Sensation (PhS) is a haptic illusion discovered by Georg von Békésy, also known as funneling illusion. PhS generates tactile sensation between more than one tactile stimulus when they are presented at the same time on the skin. In previous studies, funneling illusion was produced by the same kind of stimuli (e.g., mechanical, or electrical stimuli). While on the other hand, this study aims to investigate the nature of funneling illusion with different types of tactile stimuli. We built the experimental system and conducted evaluation experiment. This system could produce different kinds of stimuli to two points on subject's skin at the same time. This system will provide new knowledge of the nature of the illusion. An important question to consider is whether painful stimuli also make the illusional tactile stimulus painful and whether painful stimuli affect the size of the illusional stimulus.