'Rubber hand illusion' shows how our minds can be manipulated and it's totally trippy
He feels every sensation in his real hand even when it's not being touched.
The rubber hand illusion demonstrates how we can shift how our brain perceives reality.
The human mind is incredibly powerful in fascinating and sometimes terrifying ways. Conmen and cult leaders know how to manipulate people by taking advantage of psychological vulnerabilities and using tricks of the mind. But there are also physical examples of how our brains can be fooled into thinking something is real that isn't, even when we know it's happening.
The "rubber hand illusion" is a prime demonstration of how we can manipulate our brains into experiencing physical sensations—even pain—purely through the power of visual cues and parallel touch.
The way it works is a person sits with their hands palms-down on a table, but with one arm obscured from sight by a board. A rubber hand is placed on the table within sight, visually taking the place of the hidden hand. Someone strokes the hidden real hand and the rubber hand in the exactly same way at the same time while the person watches the rubber hand, and within a minute or so, the person's brain starts to sense the rubber hand as their real hand.
This multisensory trick is powerful. After a short time, even when the real hand is no longer being touched, watching the rubber hand being touched triggers a real physical sensation in the brain. This phenomenon is also called a body transfer illusion, and it's quite entertaining to witness.
Watch it in action:
\u201cBody transfer illusion \n\nThe illusion of owning a part/or entire body other than one's own \n\nsight, touch and proprioception (a sense of body position) all combine to convince this person that a rubber hand is their body part 1/\ud83e\uddf5\n\n\ud83d\udd08This video has sound\nhttps://t.co/p8O1GATuYv\u201d— Science girl (@Science girl) 1676575258
Super trippy, right?
A group of Italian scientists measured some of the effects of the rubber hand illusion by triggering the electrical impulses in the brain that control hand movement while the person was engaged in the illusion. They found that the strength of the impulses that got through to the hidden hand dropped dramatically, indicating that the brain had reduced its readiness to use the hidden hand.
“This was very surprising for us. The effect is so strong,” said Francesca Garbarini, one of the scientists leading the study, according to The Guardian. “Because the brain no longer considers the hand as part of the body, we become less able to use it.”
The rubber hand illusion has been used to explore how people who have lost limbs might gain psychological ownership over a prosthetic limb. However, not everyone is able to experience the sensations shown in the video. One study of the rubber hand illusion found that only two-thirds of participants were actually susceptible to the rubber hand illusion; the other third were immune.
Still, it's an incredible testament to the power of our minds to change what we think of as reality with just a few simple adjustments to our perception.
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.