| We often handle objects using both of our hands. The perceptual information from each hand is combined into a single perceptual representation of the object by the human brain. Information about the object's properties such as compressibility, texture or shape can be extracted with each hand individually and therefore there can be redundant information between the hands. It is known from studies in to multi-sensory perception (e.g. a combination of vision and touch) that redundant perceptual information from the different senses is not discarded, but integrated instead. Integration means that the combined percept has a larger reliability than the single sensory inputs. The research proposed here aims at determining whether perceptual information from the two hands is integrated. In order to do so, human volunteers will be asked to touch virtual objects and make perceptual judgments about these objects. Small conflicts will be introduced between the information presented to the two hands. By measuring the effect of this conflict on the combined percept, it will be determined whether there is perceptual integration between the hands. |
