Emotional Dimensions of the Cutaneous Rabbit Illusion in Virtual Reality: The Interplay of Visual and Tactile Stimuli

In this study, we explored the emotional impact of a visuo-tactile cutaneous rabbit effect (CRE) within a virtual reality (VR) context. Participants experienced tactile sensations on their forearms while interacting with 3D models of various visual stimuli (rabbit, kangaroo, spider, grasshopper, frog, flea, and sphere) in a VR environment hopping along a virtual arm, visually and positionally synchronized with the participant’s real arm. The CRE was induced by delivering three successive bursts of tactile stimulation at different forearm locations. We manipulated the virtual experience by having the 3D models either hop thrice, mirroring the tactile stimuli, or nine times, creating a more distributed sensory illusion across the arm. Results show that the type of visual stimulus significantly influenced emotional responses. Spiders were consistently rated as more unpleasant than rabbits, kangaroos, and spheres. The frequency of hops also played a crucial role; fewer hops led to higher valence ratings for visually pleasant stimuli, consistent with previous findings. An increase in visual hops generally had a calming effect, particularly notable for stimuli like fleas. In terms of dominance, participants felt less in control with spider stimuli compared to spheres. Tactile feedback was pivotal in enhancing realism and emotional depth, with varying feedback patterns suggesting potential for more nuanced and realistic VR experiences. The findings suggest that tactile stimulation in VR can significantly alter emotional responses to different stimuli, highlighting the importance of effectively coordinated multisensory feedback in virtual environments.