A simple belief can change how we perceive our bodies. This is the conclusion of a study undertaken by the University of Turin and the University of Milan-Bicocca and published recently in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), one of the most prestigious international scientific journals. The study, entitled "Body ownership gates tactile awareness by reshaping the somatosensory functional connectivity", illustrates that the perception of touch relies not solely on physical stimulation but also on a sense of bodily ownership: the brain perceives tactile stimuli only when it recognizes the affected body part as its own. In other words, perceptions regarding our bodies serve as a true switch that activates or deactivates tactile awareness. To study this mechanism, the researchers employed the well-known rubber hand illusion, an experimental paradigm that allows for temporary changes in the image of the body. After giving individuals the impression that an artificial hand was their own, tactile stimuli were applied to both the fake and real hands. The findings reveal that when individuals view the rubber hand as a part of their own body, they experience the touch, even if it is just applied to the false hand. In contrast, the actual touch on the real hand becomes less perceptible, as if the brain reduces its intensity. These findings not only address laboratory perceptual illusions, but also provide major therapeutic implications. Comprehending how belief influences tactile perception may have considerable implications, such as in rehabilitative processes following amputations. In the future, sophisticated prosthetic devices may leverage the brain's capacity to "perceive with the eyes", thereby delivering more authentic tactile sensations and enhancing the device's integration within the patient's body.