Watch your brain trick itself

Justin Willman’s Magic For Humans season 3 episode will make you laugh, squish your eyes in pain, and make your jaw hit the floor…

It’s called the Rubber Arm Experiment.

And it’s the perfect demonstration of how the brain creates symptoms and puts predictive coding on full display in less than 5 minutes.

Let me explain…

Participants sit with their real left arm hidden behind a barrier.

A fake rubber arm is positioned where they can see it.

Using feathers, the magician touches both arms at the same time. The rubber arm (visible) and the real arm (hidden).

Within minutes, participants feel sensations in the fake rubber arm..

Next, the magician runs a series of tests on the fake arm.

• Cold Test: Ice cube on rubber arm = participants feel cold.

• Heat Test: Warm object on rubber arm = participants feel heat.

• Pain Test: Needle prick on rubber arm = participants feel pain.

• Hammer Test: (The cringe moment) = genuine panic response.

But this has nothing to do with magic.

And everything to do with predictive coding.

Here’s why…

Your brain is constantly trying to predict reality.

When visual input (seeing touch) matches tactile input (feeling touch), your brain thinks:

"That rubber arm must be mine."

Even when it's not.

Now, this doesn't mean all chronic symptoms work this way. 

Some conditions have clear structural causes that need medical treatment. 

But research shows that a significant portion of chronic symptoms (especially those that are inconsistent, move around, or flare with stress) may have neuroplastic components.

This same predictive mechanism contributes to chronic symptoms when your nervous system gets stuck in protective mode: 

• Certain anxiety responses

• Some types of chronic pain

• Stress-related digestive issues

• And symptoms that don't match structural findings on tests.

Your brain predicts danger based on past experiences, stress, or learned patterns.

And creates real physical sensations to match those predictions.

My point?

The sensations are real but are brain generated.

And the sensations are not the result of structural damage.

While the rubber arm shows how fast your brain processes sensory information, chronic symptoms involve more complex neural patterns that require structured approaches and time to address

This is why neuroplastic approaches can be so effective for the right conditions.

And exactly why I built Brain Based Healing.

Because it teaches your brain to predict safety instead of danger.

And trains you to regulate your nervous system to address symptoms that may have neuroplastic origins.

Not just manage them.

The doors open on October 6th, 2025 and I can't wait for you to see what's inside.

»»» Click here to join the waitlist

To your success & joy,

— Kimia

PS

Watch this quick 5 minute video to see predictive coding in action

Rubber Arm Experiment | MAGIC FOR HUMANS