The illusion was first described in the 1990s, but since then researchers have gone much further. Many people find this a surprising and dramatic sensation. In that instant, the illusion is created: the subject feels that the rubber hand is part of their own body. The subject, seeing the rubber hand being stroked, feels the sensation as if it were their real hand, which is also being stroked but in a way they cannot see. The illusionist then lightly touches or strokes both hands in the same place and in the same way. The subject can see the rubber hand but not their real hand. The rubber hand illusion begins by covering a person’s real hand and placing a rubber hand next to it.
