Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026

Testing Tactile Masking between the Forearms
Published on: February 10, 2016
Observing the touched body magnified alters somatosensory homunculus
Michael Schaefer1, Hans-Jochen Heinze, Michael Rotte
1Department of Neurology II, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. mischa@neuro2.med.uni-magdeburg.de
Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate effects of observing the own body being touched on the functional topography of the somatosensory homunculus. We used neuromagnetic source imaging to map the topography in primary somatosensory cortex (SI) while manipulating the visibility of a touched hand. Participants were either able to observe the stimulation in real size or strongly magnified. Results demonstrated a significant shift in SI when participants viewed their stimulated body compared with a rest state or with viewing a neutral object. The magnification of the seen stimulated hand similarly resulted in a shift of the cortical representation zone in SI. We discuss the results as dynamic interactions between vision and touch in SI via back projections from multimodal cortical areas.
More Related Videos
04:27Using Facial Electromyography to Assess Facial Muscle Reactions to Experienced and Observed Affective Touch in Humans
Published on: March 15, 2019
06:43The Crossmodal Congruency Task as a Means to Obtain an Objective Behavioral Measure in the Rubber Hand Illusion Paradigm
Published on: July 26, 2013
Related Concept Videos
Somatosensation
Sensory Perception: Organization of the Somatosensory System
The receptor level:
The receptor level is the first stage of sensation. It involves the detection of a stimulus by specialized sensory receptors. The stimulus must arrive within the receptor's receptive field. Next, the receptor converts the energy of the stimulus...
Somatosensory, Motor, and Association Cortex
Major Somatic Sensory Pathways