Body Perceptions It is not easy to interpret the right toe

Examination of body perception: Toes are often exchanged
While most participants in a new study could detect when their toes were touched, they were uncertain about the rest. Often the individuals were confused. The result surprised even the researchers who performed the study.

Scientists were amazed at the results
Scientists at Oxford University (UK) have asked 20 healthy volunteers between the ages of 22 and 34, with their eyes closed, to guess which of their toes was being touched. The answers of the study participants surprised even the researchers. For example, just over half could say which of their second toes (left or right) were touched, the University of Oxford reports. The researchers published the results in the journal Perception.

The distinction of touching the toes is difficult for many. (Image: underdogstudios / fotolia.com)

Subjects could not clearly identify touched toes
According to the information, although 94 percent of the subjects could detect when their big toe was touched. But with the second, third and fourth toe, only 57, 60 and 79 percent were correct. In addition, many participants confused the second with the third and the third with the fourth toe. But with the little toe, they were safe again. Furthermore, nearly half of the subjects spontaneously stated they had the feeling that one of their toes was "missing". According to co-author Nela Cicmil, the study findings are also interesting for medicine.

Incorrect determination of body parts
The so-called agnosia - the misidentification of body parts - is characteristic of many neuropsychological disorders. "So far, however, it was not known how accurately healthy, young people can identify their toes by touch." But if healthy people can already identify their toes, such tests should no longer be used to diagnose brain damage, according to the researchers become. Cicimil was convinced: "A better understanding of the mechanisms of the brain behind simple errors in body awareness can also lead to the understanding of major cognitive disorders such as anorexia."

Perception disorders in anorexia
The distorted perception of anorexics was investigated years ago. As neuroscientists reported last year, one can deliberately deceive one's body perception in some areas. At that time, with a simple experiment using a hammer and the sounds of hammer blows striking marble, you created a marble hand illusion. For the study participants, her hand felt stiffer, heavier, harder, and colder within minutes - much like marble. (Ad)