What the Heck

"Research subjects fitted with goggles that stream video from cameras strapped to another person (or mannequin) can experience that body as their own, neuroscientists say. And not just in a fluffy, philosophical way: the subjects experienced measurable physiological changes..."  "In the first experiment, the research subject put on the augmented reality glasses and was told to look down. At the same time, video was beamed into the glasses' displays from a camera attached to the head of a mannequin. In short, the study participant was looking in the direction of his or her own stomach, but actually seeing the stomach of the mannequin. At that moment, the person conducting the experiment would rub both the stomach of the mannequin and of the research subject. Subjects reported that they felt as if they were feeling the touch on the mannequin. After a minute of this touching, the researchers threatened the abdomen of the mannequin with a knife while administering a common physiological stress test. The test measured a jump in the physiological stress the subject's were undergoing, which the researchers said implied that they had taken psychological ownership of the mannequin."

http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/12/vr-goggles-and.html

Posted by Steve on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 9:32 PM | Permalink