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Odd Illusion: Seeing Is Feeling

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By LiveScience Staff

posted: 09 April 2009 08:12 pm ET

Ever stare long enough at something that's moving — a conveyor belt or a waterfall — until other objects seem to move even though they are fixed? It's an optical illusion called the motion aftereffect.

In a new study, people had their fingertips stroked, then watched a stationary stripe on a computer screen. The stroking made them think the stripe was moving.

Equally amazing, those who watched stripes move were tricked into feeling a row of pins move along their fingers, even though the pins were stationary.

[Read the Full Story at Science Now]

In our new Etc. format, LiveScience provides links to articles of interest around the web. It is in Beta.

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