Sometimes There's Such a Thing as Too Much Research

I've been researching

for the new book - memory, identity, history, self - and came across what may be the creepiest or coolest thing about brains and self. It comes from an experiment conducted by philosopher Thomas Metzinger.

Here's the setup: One somebody films another somebody from the rear as they walk down a street. That clip is viewed through a pair of virtual reality goggles worn by a third person whose back is stroked as they watch it.

The upshot? At some point, that third person's body "jumps" into the scene and becomes part of it.

Time travel?

Photo credit to Thomas Metzinger