Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 3, 2025

The Crossmodal Congruency Task as a Means to Obtain an Objective Behavioral Measure in the Rubber Hand Illusion Paradigm
06:43

The Crossmodal Congruency Task as a Means to Obtain an Objective Behavioral Measure in the Rubber Hand Illusion Paradigm

Published on: July 26, 2013

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Effects of body ownership illusion during exposure to disgusting stimuli

Isabella Unger1, Anne Schienle1

  • 1Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 2, 8010 Graz, Austria.

Consciousness and Cognition
|February 18, 2022
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI) enhances the feeling of disgust when touching unpleasant stimuli. However, RHI did not affect disgust habituation or willingness for further exposure.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Human Sensation

Background:

  • The Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI) is a phenomenon where synchronous stimulation of a real and a fake hand creates a sense of ownership over the fake limb.
  • Previous studies suggest RHI can simulate contact with disgust-eliciting stimuli.
  • This study investigates RHI's effect on disgust habituation using a living maggot as the elicitor.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To replicate the finding that RHI can simulate skin contact with a disgust stimulus.
  • To examine disgust habituation during RHI.
  • To assess the impact of RHI on in-vivo exposure to a disgust-eliciting stimulus.

Main Methods:

  • 82 healthy participants were assigned to either synchronous or asynchronous stroking (control) of their real and a rubber hand.
  • A living maggot was placed on the rubber hand for five minutes.
  • Disgust ratings were collected before and after exposure, and willingness for self-exposure was assessed.

Main Results:

  • Synchronous stroking successfully induced RHI.
  • Participants experiencing RHI reported higher initial disgust towards the maggot compared to the control group.
  • No significant differences were found between groups in disgust habituation or willingness to place the maggot on their own hand.

Conclusions:

  • RHI effectively simulates skin contact with a disgust stimulus, increasing initial disgust perception.
  • RHI did not significantly influence disgust habituation or the willingness for direct exposure in this study.
  • Future research should explore longer exposure durations and individuals with higher disgust sensitivity to better understand RHI's effects on habituation.
Keywords:
DisgustExposureHabituationRubber Hand Illusion

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