Curved sixth fingers: Flexible representation of the shape of supernumerary body parts

Denise Cadete; Adrian J.T. Alsmith; Matthew R. Longo

doi:10.1016/j.concog.2022.103413

Curved sixth fingers: Flexible representation of the shape of supernumerary body parts

Denise Cadete^*, Adrian J.T. Alsmith, Matthew R. Longo

^*Corresponding author for this work

Philosophy

Birkbeck, University of London

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

A recent perceptual illusion induces the feeling of having a sixth finger on one's hand. It is unclear whether the representation of supernumerary fingers is flexible for shape. To test whether we can embody a sixth finger with a different shape from our own fingers, we induced a sixth finger which curved laterally though 180°. Participants reported feeling both curved and straight sixth fingers, depending on the stimulation pattern. Visual comparative judgements of the felt curvature of the supernumerary finger, showed means of 182° in the curved condition, and 35° in the straight condition. Our results show we can feel a supernumerary finger with different shape from our actual fingers, indicating that shape is represented flexibly in the perception of our hands. This study also adds evidence to the independence of the supernumerary finger from the actual fingers, showing we can represent the sixth finger with its own shape.

Original language	English
Article number	103413
Journal	Consciousness and Cognition
Volume	105
Early online date	15 Sept 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2022.103413
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2022

Keywords

Body representation
Embodiment
Multisensory illusion
Supernumerary body parts

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10.1016/j.concog.2022.103413

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title = "Curved sixth fingers: Flexible representation of the shape of supernumerary body parts",

abstract = "A recent perceptual illusion induces the feeling of having a sixth finger on one's hand. It is unclear whether the representation of supernumerary fingers is flexible for shape. To test whether we can embody a sixth finger with a different shape from our own fingers, we induced a sixth finger which curved laterally though 180°. Participants reported feeling both curved and straight sixth fingers, depending on the stimulation pattern. Visual comparative judgements of the felt curvature of the supernumerary finger, showed means of 182° in the curved condition, and 35° in the straight condition. Our results show we can feel a supernumerary finger with different shape from our actual fingers, indicating that shape is represented flexibly in the perception of our hands. This study also adds evidence to the independence of the supernumerary finger from the actual fingers, showing we can represent the sixth finger with its own shape.",

keywords = "Body representation, Embodiment, Multisensory illusion, Supernumerary body parts",

author = "Denise Cadete and Alsmith, {Adrian J.T.} and Longo, {Matthew R.}",

note = "Funding Information: DC was supported by a PhD studentship from the Foundation for Science and Technology in Portugal, grant number 2021.05917.BD. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022",

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AU - Cadete, Denise

AU - Alsmith, Adrian J.T.

AU - Longo, Matthew R.

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N2 - A recent perceptual illusion induces the feeling of having a sixth finger on one's hand. It is unclear whether the representation of supernumerary fingers is flexible for shape. To test whether we can embody a sixth finger with a different shape from our own fingers, we induced a sixth finger which curved laterally though 180°. Participants reported feeling both curved and straight sixth fingers, depending on the stimulation pattern. Visual comparative judgements of the felt curvature of the supernumerary finger, showed means of 182° in the curved condition, and 35° in the straight condition. Our results show we can feel a supernumerary finger with different shape from our actual fingers, indicating that shape is represented flexibly in the perception of our hands. This study also adds evidence to the independence of the supernumerary finger from the actual fingers, showing we can represent the sixth finger with its own shape.

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Curved sixth fingers: Flexible representation of the shape of supernumerary body parts

Abstract

Keywords

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