Enhancing Body-Penetrating Phantom Sensations Through Multisensory Integration of Sound and Vibration

A body-penetrating phantom sensation refers to a tactile experience in which the perceived location shifts between the dorsal and ventral sides of the body over time, resulting in the illusion of a tactile stimulus passing through the body. This study explores the integration of auditory and tactile stimuli to enhance the perception of body-penetrating phantom sensations. Combining vibrotactile feedback with various sounds commonly used in gaming, we investigate how multisensory configurations improve their realism, directional clarity, and user satisfaction. The experimental results demonstrate that penetration-related sounds significantly enhance perceived realism and satisfaction. We also compare the changes in emotional pleasantness and arousal levels resulting from integration of sound and tactile stimuli, along with a summary of the subjective responses. Our findings highlight the critical role of semantic harmony between auditory and tactile information, offering actionable insights for improving the realism and immersion of physical interactions in virtual environments.