Development of a paradigm for measuring somatic disturbance in clinical populations with medically unexplained symptoms

When discriminating weak vibration pulses on the finger from no stimulation, a simultaneous light was capable of creating the sensation of touch, even when it was not present. The findings of this research will be of interest to those studying psychosomatic disorders or MUS, where patients experience physical symptoms without an identifiable organic cause. This paradigm provides an experimental measure of such distortions in perception, which may elucidate underlying mechanisms of action.