Words alone carry a lot of weight, but when the power of words
is combined with the power of authority,
you can get people to believe just about anything.
Dr. Willman.
Doctor.
I have an honorary degree in Pseudopistomolgy
from the University of Phoenix. -Oh.
Oh.
I placed an ad online
inviting participants to take part in an experiment.
Can we try a little experiment? -Okay.
Okay.
I'm going to make people believe that this fake rubber prop...
is actually their real arm.
Seems unlikely.
This is a Fibonacci silk. Let me show you how it works.
If I drape it like this...
The gap is now gone between your shoulder
and the rubber arm
and your brain fills in the gap. It's called the Seinfeldian effect.
Simultaneously, because you cannot see your real left arm,
your brain disassociates that.
That's called the Costanza effect.
Wiggle the fingers on your right hand.
Great. Now wiggle the fingers on your left hand.
I'm gonna attempt to establish a connection right now
using these.
I'm just going to rub the feather along the fake arm
and your real arm that you cannot see.
Your brain starts to connect the fake arm sensations...
and make them real.
Now, let's see how strong this connection is.
Do you feel this?
Yes.
Do you feel this?
Yes.
Do you feel this?
Yes.
Do you feel this?
Yes.
Do you feel this?
Yes.
Do you feel this?
Yes.
And that?
Yes.
And that?
That's cool.
-Isn't that wild? -Yeah... 'cause your hand is–
Yeah.
That's weird.
-The brain... connects them. -Yeah.
That's interesting.
Let's just test how far that connection goes.
Okay.
Now, on your right hand do you feel that?
I do.
Cold.
Yes.
That's why I call it the cold test. -Genius.
Genius.
When I place it over here, how does that feel?
Cold.
Keep in mind, there's no science happening here.
Just the power of magic and the power of BS.
Now, what do you feel?
Nothing.
You don't feel an ice cube resting on top of your hand?
No.
Let's try another experiment.
I call this one...
I'll be very gentle.
I promise not to burn you.
Okay.
I'm just curious if you feel... that.
What did you feel?
A little bit of heat.
Tell me how this feels.
Ahh!
Now...
do you feel that?
No.
This?
No.
That?
No.
Ah! Hot!
For the pain test, I'm going to use this...pointy needle.
I'm curious.
Do you feel...
-that? -Yeah.
-Isn't that wild? -Yeah.
How does this feel?
Ah, that– Yeah, I can feel it.
Is it okay if I prick your real hand?
Yeah.
No blood. Like acupuncture.
Do you feel that?
No.
Nothing?
Nothing.
Do you feel that?
No.
How about...
that?
-No. -Anything now?
No.
Nothing.
Nothing?
Nothing.
Let's try something else.
Ow!
Oh!
You're good.
Don't worry.
Wow.
Wiggle your fingers.
Your hand's okay.
If you don't mind stepping into testing room 2,
we're gonna collect a urine sample.
I'm kidding.
It's in testing room one.
Oh, really?
You know what happens in number two.
Oh, no.