How to Feel Like One has Two Noses

Everyone has experienced optical illusions, where an image magically morphs from one thing into something quite different, just because you're seeing the positive and negative shapes differently. However, you can also experience sensory illusions. A sensory illusion leads you to experience something with your senses that clearly isn't true, such as thinking you have two noses because your fingers are telling you that you do.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Do the illusion in a space with no mirrors or shiny reflective surfaces. If you can see yourself when you try to create the sensory illusion of having two noses, you ruin the illusion.

2. Cross your middle finger over your index finger to form a "V." If it's easier to cross it under, you can do that instead.

3. Raise your crossed fingers to your nose. It might help to close your eyes.

4. Run the "V" down your nose, so your index finger is on the right side of your nose and your middle finger is on the left. Start from the bridge, and end at the tip of your nose.

5. Repeat the rubbing if you still feel like you have only one nose. If you don't feel like you have two noses after you repeat it, this sensory illusion probably doesn't work on you.

6. Uncross your fingers to see if you experience another sensory illusion. Some people feel like their index and middle fingers are misplaced after they do the illusion.

Tips & Warnings

• Though this illusion may not work on you, it works on most people. Explain it to a friend to see if she feels like she has two noses.