Distorted representations of the body appear to be a basic feature of mental life

In one study, participants' hands were covered with a board and then asked to use a long baton to indicate the perceived location of the knuckle and tip of each finger. Perceptual maps of hand size and shape were constructed based on their judgements and then compared with the actual hand structure.

These maps were massively distorted, showing overestimation of hand width and underestimation of finger length.