Spatial aspects of bodily self-consciousness.
Open accessAbstract
Visual, somatosensory, and perspectival cues normally provide congruent information about where the self is experienced. Separating those cues by virtual reality techniques, recent studies found that self-location was systematically biased to where a visual-tactile event was seen. Here we developed a novel, repeatable and implicit measure of self-location to compare and extend previous protocols. We investigated illusory self-location and associated phenomenological aspects in a lying body position that facilitates clinically observed abnormal self-location (as on out-of-body experiences). The results confirm that the self is located to where touch is seen. This leads to either predictable lowering or elevation of self-localization, and the latter was accompanied by sensations of floating, as during out-of-body experiences. Using a novel measurement we show that the unitary and localized character of the self can be experimentally separated from both the origin of the visual perspective and the location of the seen body, which is compatible with clinical data.
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The present data show that previously described changes in self-location and self-identification are - under certain experimental conditions - associated with changes in the CCE, and hence with changes in the mapping of tactile stimuli.
“The present data show that the previously described [17], [18], [25], [27] changes in self-location and self-identification are - under certain experimental conditions - associated with changes in the CCE, and hence with changes in the mapping of tactile stimuli.”
From Keeping in touch with one’s self: multisensory mechanisms of self-consciousness (2009) · cites this paper as [17]
These methods have been used to produce out-of-the-body experiences.
“These methods have also been used to produce illusions of body morphing, adding supernumery limbs to the body [3], [4], [5], [6], and out-of-the-body experiences [7], [8], [9].”
From First person experience of body transfer in virtual reality (2010) · cites this paper as [8]
Our study extends earlier results that used simpler video and virtual reality technology.
“Our study extends earlier results that used simpler video and virtual reality technology [7], [8], [9], [14].”
From First person experience of body transfer in virtual reality (2010) · cites this paper as [8]
These out-of-the-body and the manikin experiments employed synchronous visuotactile stimulation.
“These out-of-the-body and the manikin experiments employed synchronous visuotactile stimulation – the illusory visual body was seen to be tapped or stroked in the same place as the real body was felt to be stimulated.”
From First person experience of body transfer in virtual reality (2010) · cites this paper as [8]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Lenggenhager, B., Mouthon, M., & Blanke, O.
- Affiliations
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH)
- University Hospital of Geneva (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Blanke, Olaf
- Venue
- Consciousness and Cognition
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-03
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 110-117
- ISSN
- 1053-8100 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2047690468
- Semantic Scholar
- 2996998a4fe3f50ba99603a571024da7827f186e
- Cited by
- 212
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 24.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- infoscience.epfl.ch
- Locations
- Consciousness and Cognition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
- Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction › Virtual Reality Applications and Impacts
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Free Will and Agency
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Philosophy and Theoretical Science
- Keywords
- bodily self-consciousness, self-localization, out-of-body experiences, posture, virtual reality, somatosensory cues, visual perspective
- MeSH terms
- Body Image, Consciousness, Cues, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Concept, Space Perception, Touch, Visual Perception, Young Adult
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