The Anne Boleyn Illusion is a Six-Fingered Salute to Sensory Remapping

Iperception. 2016 Sep 21;7(5):2041669516669732. doi: 10.1177/2041669516669732. eCollection 2016 Sep-Oct.

Abstract

The Anne Boleyn Illusion exploits the somatotopic representation of touch to create the illusion of an extra digit and demonstrates the instantaneous remapping of relative touch location into body-based coordinates through visuo-tactile integration. Performed successfully on thousands, it is also a simple demonstration of the flexibility of body representations for use at public events, in schools or in the home and can be implemented anywhere by anyone with a mirror and some degree of bimanual coordination.

Keywords: body representation; multisensory illusions; public engagement; remapping; touch.