Thermal Grill Illusion
The thermal grill illusion (TGI) is a sensory phenomenon where alternating warm and cool bars create the perception of burning heat when touched simultaneously, despite neither temperature being painful alone. It demonstrates that burning pain is a combination of cold and heat pain signals, with the inhibition of cold pain pathways revealing the sensation of heat pain. Functional MRI studies have shown that the illusion activates the thalamus and a region of the right insula linked to perceived unpleasantness.
- ▪The illusion was first demonstrated in 1896 by Swedish physician Torsten Thunberg.
- ▪Alternating warm (e.g., 40°C) and cool (e.g., 20°C) bars create a sensation of burning pain when touched together.
- ▪fMRI studies show activation in the thalamus and right mid/anterior insula during the illusion.
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Toggle the table of contents Thermal grill illusion 2 languages Españolไทย Edit links ArticleTalk English ReadEditView history Tools Tools move to sidebar hide Actions ReadEditView history General What links hereRelated changesUpload filePermanent linkPage informationCite this pageGet shortened URL Print/export Download as PDFPrintable version In other projects Wikidata item Appearance move to sidebar hide From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sensory illusion The thermal grill illusion (also known to researchers as the TGI) is a sensory illusion originally demonstrated in 1896 by the Swedish physician Torsten Thunberg.[1] The illusion is created by a grill of bars which are alternately warm, e.g. 40 °C (104 °F; 313 K), and cool, e.g. 20 °C (68 °F; 293 K).
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