The perception of temporal order is not fixed, but strongly depends upon recent experience. For example, adaptation to pairs of audiovisual stimuli in which audition leads vision results in an observer requiring a lead of sound over vision for subsequent pairings to be perceived as simultaneous (Fujisaki et al., 2004). The same is true of multisensory pairings involving tactile stimulation (Hanson et al., 2008). A notable exception to this sensory realignment seems to occur when the temporal order of two tactile stimuli, one to each hand, is judged (Miyazaki et al., 2006). In this case a reverse recalibration effect is found – post adaptation, perceived synchrony requires the opposite temporal order. In the present study, we investigate the effects of adaptation to tactile temporal order for digits belonging to the same hand. Adaptation to the stimulation of one digit 90ms prior to the other produces a substantial realignment of subsequent temporal order judgments in the same direction as the adapting sequence, suggesting an effect of adaptation which depends critically on whether the adaptation is within or between hands.

Fujisaki, W, Shimojo, S et al. (2004) Recalibration of audiovisual simultaneity. Nature Neuroscience, 7, 773-778.
Hanson, JVM, Heron, J & Whitaker, D (2008) Recalibration of perceived time across sensory modalities. Experimental Brain Research, 185, 347-352.
Miyazaki, M, Yamamoto, S et al. (2006) Bayesian calibration of simultaneity in tactile temporal order judgment. Nature Neuroscience, 9, 875-877.