Phantom vibration, how our phones trick us?

Phantom vibration is a phenomenon whereby a person feels that their phone is vibrating or ringing in the absence of calls or messages. 

People experience this feeling when they keep their phone in their pocket. 

They may quickly reach for their phone, only to discover that it was their imagination that prompted that reaction. 

Phantom vibrations occur because the the brain starts to expect phone alerts. 

When we frequently receive messages or calls, our mind become highly sensitive to these stimuli. 

Muscle twitches or clothing rubbing against the skin can be mistakenly interpreted by the brain as a phone notification. Stress and anxiety can heighten sensitivity, making people more perceptive of these sensations.
Although phantom vibrations are harmless for the most part, they reveal how dependent people are on their digital devices. They scatter our focus, reduce our concentration, making it hard for us to pay attention to any single task and finish it.

People start feeling uncomfortable and anxious when they are away from their phones because they worry about missing messages, calls and notifications.
We can reduce phantom vibrations and mitigate their effects on our ability to focus by turning off unnecessary notifications, taking regular breaks from the phones, or temporarily storing them in a different room for example. 

This can help us avoid the compulsive and constant checking and help the brain to focus less on alerts and more on the task at hand. 

Phantom vibrations can be disruptive, they are also a reminder of how strongly modern technology can influence our ability to focus, our thoughts, and our behaviours.