The beginning of the test session was then announced. Each hand was tested once in a balanced order across participants. To ensure that there was no interference from visual stimuli, participants were not allowed to see their protocol
and had to place it away from the mon the desk, together with the pencil. They were seated with their back supported by the backrest of a large chair. The leg ipsilateral to the tested hand was laterally abducted by about 60° from the midline. Participants placed the white cotton fabric on their thigh,with their arm resting on their inner thigh. Their hand
was placed palm up so that, apart from the fingers, only a dorsal part of the hand was in contact with their thigh. The fingers were spaced slightly apart. The hand not being tested was placed on the edge of the chair, on the outer side of the leg contralateral to the tested hand. Following the “start” signal given verbally by the experimenter to mark the beginning of each trial, participants directed their gaze toward their tested hand for 10 s, during which time they focused on the whole hand and kept their attention there so they could detect and report any sensations that might occur. They were also told that there was a possibility that no sensations would occur.