title: Interpolation of illusory pain in the human somatosensory system.
abstract: Three coins are lined up with the middle coin at room temperature and flanking coins cooled down to 4 degrees C. If digits 2 and 4 are placed on the outer coins and digit 3 on the middle coin, the latter also feels cold; a striking example of perceptual filling in of temperature. We show that if digits 2 and 4 are placed on a thermal grill with alternating hot and cold bars, while digit 3 is placed on cardboard, the sensation of pain will also spread to the middle finger.
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain and Cognition, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0109, USA. eseckel@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Seckel
authors.forename: Beatrix
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Vilayanur S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D058748:Pain Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature