I found an article talking about the "phatom vibrations" that a lot of us feel from time to time. Some call it "phantom vibration syndrome," others prefer "vibranxiety" — the feeling when you answer your vibrating cellphone, only to find it never vibrated at all. No, your phone is not actually vibrating, nor is your leg vibrating of its own accord. This article explains that these false alarms simply demonstrate how easily haibts are developed. Simply put, people who have been using a cell phone are more alert to vibrations and are likely to experience sporadic false alarms. "You come armed with this template that leads you to be attentive to sensations that represent a cellphone vibrating. And it leads you to over-incorporate non-vibratory sensations and attribute them to the idea that you're receiving a phone call."
When we first get a cell phone, we're setting perceptual filters so that we can pick out the ringtone or vibration even under noisy conditions. But this filter is imperfect, and we often interpret random noise as a real signal, when it actually isn't. They also offer another explanation: neuroplasticity. When we regularly feel the vibration sensation, our brains become wired to that sensation. One expert said that neurological connections formed by the sensation of vibrating are easily activated, and similar sensations are incorporated into that template. "They become a habit of the brain."
Also, though this has nothing to do with this post, enjoy this cartoon. :)
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