Have you ever watched a video of someone scratching a chalkboard, rubbing dry cotton, or scraping a fork across a ceramic plate and immediately felt uncomfortable?

Perhaps your fingers curled, your shoulders tensed, or you experienced a strange sensation that seemed surprisingly real.

The fascinating part is this:

Nothing actually touched you.

So why did your brain react as though it had?

Let’s explore one of the most remarkable abilities of the human brain: its power to recreate sensations from memory.

Can Your Brain Feel Something That Isn’t There?

Before reading further, try this simple exercise.

Close your eyes for three seconds.

Imagine slowly pulling apart a ball of dry cotton.

Did your fingers feel slightly uncomfortable?

Did you almost hear that faint squeaky texture?

Did your shoulders tense without you realising it?

If your answer was yes, you’re certainly not alone.

Many people report experiencing physical sensations simply by imagining familiar textures. It demonstrates just how closely our senses, memories, and expectations work together.

Your Brain Is More Than a Receiver

We often think our brain works like a camera, recording exactly what happens around us.

In reality, it behaves more like a prediction machine.

Every second, your brain combines information from:

Past experiences
Memories
Expectations
Visual input
Sounds
Emotions

It then constructs what you experience as reality.

This process usually helps us respond quickly and efficiently to the world around us. However, it also explains why imagined experiences can sometimes feel surprisingly vivid.

Why Cotton Can Feel So Uncomfortable

Cotton itself isn’t unpleasant for everyone.

Yet many people describe dry cotton as:

Squeaky
Dry
Scratchy
Uncomfortable
Difficult to imagine touching

Why?

Your brain has stored previous experiences involving that texture.

When you imagine cotton, your brain retrieves those stored sensory memories and recreates parts of the experience.

Although there is no actual touch occurring, the sensation can still feel convincing.

The Science Behind Mental Simulation

Researchers have found that imagining an action or sensation can activate some of the same brain regions involved in physically experiencing it.

This process is known as mental simulation.

Athletes use it before competitions.

Musicians rehearse pieces mentally.

Surgeons mentally practise procedures.

Our brains are remarkably good at simulating experiences, whether we intend them to or not.

While imagining a texture does not produce exactly the same neural activity as physically touching it, it can still create a genuine feeling of discomfort or familiarity.

Other Everyday Examples

You may have experienced similar reactions when thinking about:

Fingernails scraping a chalkboard
Biting into ice cream with sensitive teeth
Walking barefoot on sharp gravel
Velvet rubbed in the opposite direction
Wet wool
Sandpaper
Styrofoam rubbing together

Simply reading these examples may have triggered subtle sensations.

That’s your brain filling in the missing information.

Why Everyone Experiences Different Triggers

Not everyone reacts to the same textures.

Some people dislike:

Cotton

Others struggle with:

Chalk
Microfibre cloth
Velvet
Sponge
Aluminium foil
Dry paper towels

These differences arise because every brain is shaped by unique experiences, preferences, and sensory processing patterns.

There is no universally “correct” reaction.

What This Tells Us About the Human Mind

Experiences like these remind us that perception isn’t simply about what is happening around us.

It is also about what is happening inside us.

Our brains constantly interpret, predict, and reconstruct information using memories collected throughout our lives.

This incredible ability allows us to:

Learn faster
Recognise familiar situations
Predict outcomes
Avoid danger
Understand the world efficiently

Occasionally, it also means we can “feel” something that isn’t physically present.

Try This Simple Activity

Ask a friend or family member to close their eyes and imagine touching different objects.

For example:

Cotton
Chalk
Velvet
Sandpaper
Ice cubes
Dry leaves

Compare your reactions.

You may be surprised at how different your experiences are.

Watch the 30-Second Demonstration

Curious to see this phenomenon in action?

Watch my short video where I guide you through this simple experience and explain why your brain responds the way it does.

▶ Watch the YouTube Short

If you enjoy discovering fascinating insights about psychology, perception, and the human mind, don’t forget to subscribe to the EducateAble YouTube channel for more bite-sized psychology content.

Recommendations for Curious Minds

If you’d like to explore psychology and neuroscience further, here are some excellent books to consider.

Beginner Friendly

The Brain: The Story of You by David Eagleman
Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain by David Eagleman
How the Mind Works by Steven Pinker

Psychology Classics

Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks
Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) by Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson

Neuroscience

Livewired by David Eagleman
The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge

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One final question:

What’s one texture you can almost feel just by thinking about it? Share your answer in the comments below.