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Objective

According to the predictive processing theory of somatic symptom generation, body sensations are determined by somatosensory input and central nervous predictions about this input. We examined how expectations shape predictions and consequently bodily perceptions in a task eliciting illusory sensations as laboratory analogue of medically unexplained symptoms.

Methods

Using the framework of signal detection theory, the influence of sham Wi-Fi on response bias (c) and somatosensory sensitivity (d′) for tactile stimuli was examined using the somatic signal detection task (SSDT). A healthy student sample (n= 83) completed the SSDT twice (sham Wi-Fi on/off) in a randomized order after watching a film that promoted adverse health effects of electromagnetic fields.

Results

When expecting a Wi-Fi signal to be present, participants showed a significantly more liberal response bias c (p=. 010, η p 2= 0 …