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Active and passive-touch during interpersonal multisensory stimulation change self-other boundaries
Ana Tajadura-Jiménez1, Ludovica Lorusso, Manos Tsakiris
1Lab of Action & Body, Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, UK.
Consciousness and Cognition
|October 8, 2013
Summary
The enfacement illusion alters self-face recognition by linking observed touch on another's face with self-touch. Both active and passive touch similarly shift self-other boundaries, suggesting sensory input is key for updating body image.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- The enfacement illusion demonstrates how interpersonal visuo-tactile stimulation can alter self-face recognition.
- Understanding the role of self-generated actions and sensory feedback in modulating self-other boundaries is crucial for cognitive neuroscience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the contribution of proprioceptive and motor signals from self-generated actions to the enfacement illusion.
- To determine how active versus passive touch influences the malleability of self-other boundaries during interpersonal visuo-tactile stimulation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized psychophysical and psychometric tasks to quantify changes in self-face recognition.
- Compared effects of active-touch (self-generated) and passive-touch (externally applied) during the enfacement illusion.
Main Results:
- Both active and passive touch during the enfacement illusion induced comparable changes in the categorical boundaries of self-other distinction.
- The extent to which an observed other is assimilated into one's mental self-representation was similarly affected by active and passive touch.
Conclusions:
- Afferent sensory input appears sufficient for updating body image during the enfacement illusion, as both active and passive touch yield similar effects on self-recognition.
- Certain aspects of self-identification experience may be more profoundly influenced by passive touch compared to active touch.
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