Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2026
Visualization Method for Proprioceptive Drift on a 2D Plane Using Support Vector Machine
Published on: October 27, 2016
The rubber hand illusion in children with autism spectrum disorders: delayed influence of combined tactile and visual
Carissa J Cascio1, Jennifer H Foss-Feig, Courtney P Burnette
1Department of Psychiatry, Vanderbilt University, 1601 23rd Ave South Suite 3057, Nashville, TN 37212, USA. carissa.cascio@vanderbilt.edu
Insights
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show delayed susceptibility to the rubber hand illusion, potentially due to altered sensory processing. Empathy levels correlated with illusion susceptibility in ASD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Autism Research
Background:
- Perceived body ownership is crucial for self-awareness, imitation, and empathy.
- These foundational aspects of self-perception are often impacted in autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
- The rubber hand illusion is a paradigm used to study body ownership and multisensory integration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate susceptibility to the rubber hand illusion in children with and without ASD.
- To explore the relationship between sensory processing, empathy, and body ownership in ASD.
- To understand how atypical body representation in ASD might relate to social deficits.
Main Methods:
- Children with and without ASD participated in a rubber hand illusion experiment.
- Susceptibility to the illusion was measured under conditions of synchronous visual and tactile stimulation.
- Empathy levels were assessed in children with ASD.
Main Results:
- Children with ASD were initially less susceptible to the rubber hand illusion compared to controls.
- Susceptibility to the illusion in children with ASD increased after 6 minutes of stimulation.
- Lower empathy scores in children with ASD were associated with reduced susceptibility to the illusion.
Conclusions:
- Delayed susceptibility to the rubber hand illusion in ASD may indicate atypical multisensory temporal integration or heightened reliance on proprioception.
- Body representation and its connection to empathy in ASD offer insights into the neural basis of social deficits.
- Understanding these mechanisms can inform future interventions for individuals with ASD.
Abstract:
In the rubber hand illusion, perceived hand ownership can be transferred to a rubber hand after synchronous visual and tactile stimulation. Perceived body ownership and self-other relation are foundational for development of self-awareness, imitation, and empathy, which are all affected in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We examined the rubber hand illusion in children with and without ASD. Children with ASD were initially less susceptible to the illusion than the comparison group, yet showed the effects of the illusion after 6 minutes. Delayed susceptibility to the illusion may result from atypical multisensory temporal integration and/or an unusually strong reliance on proprioception. Children with ASD who displayed less empathy were significantly less likely to experience the illusion than those with more intact ability to express empathy. A better understanding of body representation in ASD may elucidate neural underpinnings of social deficits, thus informing future intervention approaches.
