Strange Experiments Create Body-Swapping Experiences

[Telarus]

http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/081202-body-swapping.html

Scientists now have manipulated people's perceptions to make them think they have swapped bodies with another human or even a "humanoid body," experiencing the sensations that the other would feel and giving the illusion of being inside the other's body.
...
In real life, the cognitive neuroscientists at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet succeeded in making subjects perceive the bodies of mannequins and other people as their own. The illusion also worked even when the two people differed in appearance or were of different sexes. It also worked whether the subject was immobile or was making voluntary movements. However, it was not possible to fool the subjects into identifying with a non-humanoid object, such as a chair or a large block.

A year ago, scientists achieved the illusion of an out-of-body experience in subjects, using virtual reality. The new research manipulates the brain even further — out of itself and into another body.

http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/081202-body-swapping.html

[Kai]

Thanks for this. It hits close to home.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

It's the little reality hacks like this that makes one question how much of really real reality we're experiencing, versus how much we're making up in our head.

[Kai]

It's the little reality hacks like this that makes one question how much of really real reality we're experiencing, versus how much we're making up in our head.

Just because its "made up" in your head doesn't make it any less real.

[AFK]

It's the little reality hacks like this that makes one question how much of really real reality we're experiencing, versus how much we're making up in our head.

As it turns out, you aren't really real reality.  I made you up, so if you wanna keep living you need to start sending me $121 a week so I'll keep believing in you, thereby, allowing you to continue to exist.   

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

It's the little reality hacks like this that makes one question how much of really real reality we're experiencing, versus how much we're making up in our head.

Just because its "made up" in your head doesn't make it any less real.

Well that's true. But this does lend to the idea that our brains are more easily fooled than we tend to think...

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

My only interest in this is how I can use it to masturbate.

[LMNO]

It's the little reality hacks like this that makes one question how much of really real reality we're experiencing, versus how much we're making up in our head.

Just because its "made up" in your head doesn't make it any less real.

Well that's true. But this does lend to the idea that our brains are more easily fooled than we tend to think...

I think that one of the most important aspects of Discordia (and the BIP) is to constantly remind ourselves that we are always fooling ourselves as to what's "really out there".  Always.  ALL THE TIME.  EVEN RIGHT NOW.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

It's the little reality hacks like this that makes one question how much of really real reality we're experiencing, versus how much we're making up in our head.

Just because its "made up" in your head doesn't make it any less real.

Well that's true. But this does lend to the idea that our brains are more easily fooled than we tend to think...

I think that one of the most important aspects of Discordia (and the BIP) is to constantly remind ourselves that we are always fooling ourselves as to what's "really out there".  Always.  ALL THE TIME.  EVEN RIGHT NOW.

Agreed 100%

Sometimes we even fool ourselves about barstools

[Elder Iptuous]

I think that one of the most important aspects of Discordia (and the BIP) is to constantly remind ourselves that we are always fooling ourselves as to what's "really out there".  Always.  ALL THE TIME.  EVEN RIGHT NOW.

Fooling ourselves?
or, just limited in scope as to our perception of it?

[LMNO]

If it was just limited perception, we would see the gaps.

We make shit up to create a cohesive worldview.

Often, the shit we make up has nothing to do with anything.

[AFK]

Humans thoroughly detest having a lack of control.  It starts from infancy and we never really outgrow it.  We just think that as we grow "smarter" we somehow have wrestled more control from our surroundings.  When in reality, I think it's pretty much just that we have more weapons and experience for dealing with what comes our way. 

[hooplala]

If it was just limited perception, we would see the gaps.

We make shit up to create a cohesive worldview.

Often, the shit we make up has nothing to do with anything.

Very very true.  Starbucks Pebbles illustrates this quite nicely.

[Elder Iptuous]

If it was just limited perception, we would see the gaps.

that doesn't follow....


the starbucks pebbles themselves are actually there.  the perception of that isn't self delusional....

perhaps im just channeling Ratatosk's pedantry atm....

[AFK]

If it was just limited perception, we would see the gaps.

that doesn't follow....


the starbucks pebbles themselves are actually there.  the perception of that isn't self delusional....

perhaps im just channeling Ratatosk's pedantry atm....

The pebbles are there.  But we make up their relationship to each other.  By seeing them connected as a Pentagon, by seeing them being intersected by lines that form a star, etc.,

How many entertain the thought that they actually have no relationship whatsoever and need not be connected?