Figure 5. Setup and results of Experiment 4.

(a) The experiment timings and five representative frames from the visual stimuli are shown. Following 60 s of synchronous or asynchronous visuo-tactile stimulation that featured the invisible body or the mannequin’s body, the participants slowly lifted their gaze to discover that they were standing in front of an audience. The audience consisted of 11 scientists who were instructed to look directly at the participant (i.e., the cameras providing visual input to the HMDs) with a stern, serious face. The participants’ heart rate and subjective level of stress were measured. (b) The invisible body illusion was associated with significantly lower stress ratings than were found in the mannequin illusion. No significant difference was observed in the asynchronous control conditions. (c) In accordance with the subjective data, the heart rate response was significantly lower in the invisible body condition than in the mannequin condition - but only in the synchronous illusion condition. These results suggest that the illusion of owning an invisible body reduces the social anxiety associated with the experience of standing in front of an audience.