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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

The Crossmodal Congruency Task as a Means to Obtain an Objective Behavioral Measure in the Rubber Hand Illusion Paradigm
Published on: July 26, 2013
Touch feel illusion in schizophrenic patients
A Peled1, M Ritsner, S Hirschmann
1Institute for Psychiatric Studies, Sha'ar Menashe Mental Health Center, Hadera, Israel.
Background:
The rubber hand illusion is a tactile sensation referred to as an alien limb. The illusion has been explained by a spurious reconciliation of visual and tactile inputs reflecting functional connectivity in the brain and was used to explore alterations of functional connectivity in schizophrenia.
Methods:
The rubber hand illusion was achieved when two paintbrushes simultaneously stroke the hand of the subject hidden from vision by a screen, as well as an artificial hand placed in view of the subject. The rubber hand illusion was assessed with a questionnaire affirming or denying the occurrence of the illusion.
Results:
Schizophrenic subjects felt the illusion stronger and faster then did normal control subjects. Some rubber hand illusion effects correlated with positive symptoms of schizophrenia but not with negative symptoms.
Conclusions:
Altered functional integration of environmental inputs could constitute the basis for erroneous interpretations of reality, such as delusions and hallucinations.
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