Sensory attenuation of self-initiated tactile feedback is modulated by stimulus strength and temporal delay in a virtual reality environment.

This article investigates the mechanisms of sensory attenuation (SA)—the reduced perception of self-initiated sensory stimuli—within the tactile domain using a virtual reality (VR) setup that precisely controls sensory feedback. The study examined how self-initiation (agency) and temporal predictability (onset delay) influence perceived vibration intensity when participants compared self-generated versus externally generated tactile stimuli of varying intensities. Results showed that attenuation of self-initiated stimuli occurred primarily for high-intensity vibrations presented immediately after movement, while low-intensity or delayed stimuli sometimes led to enhanced perception, indicating that SA is modulated by stimulus strength and timing rather than self-initiation alone. These findings challenge traditional motor-based forward models that emphasize efference copies and support broader predictive processing frameworks that incorporate attention and contextual factors in shaping sensory perception.