---
title: "Research Notes: Rubber Hand Illusion"
slug: rubber-hand-illusion
lang: en
created: 2026-09-25
modified: 2026-09-25
version: 2026-09-25
type: reference
tags:
  - reference
  - neuroscience
  - perception
summary: "A classic neurological experiment where the brain adopts an artificial hand as part of the body, demonstrating the 'self-model' in action."
---

# Research Notes: Rubber Hand Illusion

The Rubber Hand Illusion is a classic experiment in neuroscience and psychology that demonstrates how the brain constructs a "self-model" of the body.

## The Experiment
An experimenter strokes a fake rubber hand (placed on a table) in sync with the subject's hidden real hand. Within minutes, the brain begins to "adopt" the rubber hand as part of the body.

## The Evidence
The illusion is not just a feeling; it is measurable:
- **Flinch Response:** If the rubber hand is suddenly threatened (e.g., by a falling object), the subject will flinch as if their real hand were being hit.
- **Temperature Drop:** The real hand's temperature measurably drops as if it were "evicted" from the body's primary ownership.
- **Proprioception:** The brain's sense of where the hand is in space shifts to align with the rubber hand's position.

## The Lesson
It proves that "selfhood" is not just a static fact but a dynamic construction. The brain doesn't just "know" what the body is; it *decides* what counts as "me" based on the flow of information.