Phantom Sensations in Social VR

Experimental scene used to investigate visually induced phantom sensations in social VR.

This research investigates phantom sensations experienced in immersive social virtual reality, in which users report bodily sensations despite the absence of corresponding physical stimulation.

The work examines how visual events, avatar embodiment, spatial presence, expectation, and emotional arousal contribute to perceived sensations during virtual interactions. It also explores individual differences and physiological and neural responses associated with these experiences.

Current Research Topics

Phantom touch and other visually induced bodily sensations
Avatar embodiment and body ownership
Spatial and social presence
Emotional arousal and expectation
Individual differences in susceptibility
Physiological and neural sensing
Experimental design for immersive social VR

Research Approach

Controlled VR scenarios are used to present visual events such as virtual contact, falling, slashing, thermal cues, and other interactions.

Subjective reports are combined with behavioral, physiological, and neural measures to investigate the mechanisms underlying phantom sensations.

Representative Publications and Awards

Temma Saito and Kaoru Sumi. Investigating Phantom Sensation in the Metaverse. The 9th AIoT Behavior Transformation Research Meeting (BTI9), 2025. (in Japanese) Best Presentation Award
Sota Kaga and Kaoru Sumi. Comparison of Phantom Sensation Induction and Physiological Responses in the Metaverse. JSAI Special Interest Group on Knowledge and Skills Transfer, 2026. (in Japanese)