Create your own psuedo-out-of-body experience

Unless you've been living under a rock, or don't care about science-related news, I'm sure you've heard about how a group of British scientists successfully induced a pseudo-out-of-body experience in their research subjects. The set-up is really quite simple, and ingenious: the research subjects put on virtual reality goggles that allow them to see a real-time feed from a camera that's aimed at their back (so basically they're seeing what someone standing directly behind them would see). A researcher then rubs and taps on the subject's back, which the subject sees happening through the V.R. goggles. Eventually, the sensation of being touched will transfer from the subject's body to the non-existent body that they see projected through the goggles in front of them. Essentially they'll feel the sensation outside of their own body! Pretty cool, eh?

So, I bet you're thinking, "what in the world does this have to do with DIY?" Well, my inquisitive friend, you're about to find out, because I'm going to show you how to recreate this super cool experiment with little more than a willing friend (with a good sense of rhythm) and your kitchen table.


Sit at a table with a friend at your side. Put one hand on your knee, out of sight under the table. Your friend's job is to tap, touch, and stoke your hidden hand and-with identical movements using her other hand-to tap the top of the table directly above. Do this for a couple of minutes. It helps if you concentrate on the table where your friend is touching, and it's important you don't get hints of how your friend is touching your hidden hand. The more irregular the pattern and the better synchronized the movements on your hand and on the table, the greater the chance this will work for you. About 50% of people begin to feel as if the tapping sensation is arising from the table, where they can see the tapping happening before their very eyes. If you're lucky, the simultaneous touching and visual input have led the table to be incorporated into your body image. [via Mind Hacks]

I tried this with my wife last night, and although it didn't quite work for me, she said she could feel the sensation hover somewhere between her hand and the table. Honestly, I was a little disappointed that the experiment didn't have an effect on me, but then again, my brain is a hard beast to trick. Scientists tried to study my brain once, when they were developing the world's smartest Teddy Ruxpin bear, but, unfortunately for them, my brain waves were so huge that they caused all the equipment to explode. True story!

For a more indepth look at the original British study, check out this article by New Scientist.