Phantom vibration syndrome

Phantom vibration syndrome is the perception that a mobile phone is vibrating when it is not receiving a call or notification. It is a sensory misperception, not evidence that the phone actually vibrated.

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Signal detection theory: A framework describing how observers distinguish signals from noise under uncertainty. It explains why expecting an alert can make a weak sensation seem like a phone vibration.
Smartphone addiction: A pattern of compulsive smartphone use that interferes with daily functioning. Frequent checking and alert monitoring can accompany phantom vibration experiences.
Rothberg phantom vibration study: A survey study of phantom phone vibrations among medical staff published in 2010. It found the experience was common among medical interns carrying pagers or phones.
Tinnitus: The perception of sound, such as ringing, without a corresponding external acoustic source. Tinnitus is an auditory phantom sensation, unlike the tactile phone-alert illusion.
Somatosensation: The sensory system that detects touch, pressure, temperature, pain, and body position. Phantom vibration is a tactile perception produced without the expected external phone signal.
Nomophobia: Anxiety associated with being without access to a mobile phone. Phone-related anxiety can heighten vigilance for calls and notifications.
Phantom ringing syndrome: The perception that a phone is ringing when no call is occurring. It is an auditory counterpart often studied alongside phantom vibration.
Delusion: A strongly held false belief that persists despite clear contradictory evidence. Phantom vibration is a fleeting sensation, not a fixed false belief.
Predictive processing: A theory that perception combines incoming sensory data with predictions about its causes. Phone-checking expectations can shape how ambiguous sensations are interpreted.
Notification: An alert that informs a user about an event or update in a digital system. The sensation is often interpreted as a notification arriving when none did.