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Body part-centered and full body-centered peripersonal space representations
Andrea Serino1,2, Jean-Paul Noel1,2, Giulia Galli1,2,3
1Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Brain Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Scientific Reports
|December 23, 2015
Summary
Peripersonal space (PPS) representation varies by body part, with larger spaces for the trunk than the face or hand. This multisensory space integrates external stimuli with touch, demonstrating distinct yet interconnected body-part specific representations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Integration
- Spatial Cognition
Background:
- The brain constructs Peripersonal space (PPS) by integrating sensory inputs near the body.
- Understanding PPS is crucial for explaining how we interact with our environment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the body-part specificity and spatial characteristics of Peripersonal space.
- To determine how visual and auditory stimuli modulate tactile processing at different distances and body locations.
Main Methods:
- Behavioral experiments measuring reaction times to tactile stimuli.
- Presentation of task-irrelevant visual or auditory stimuli at varying distances from the body (hand, face, trunk).
- Analysis of stimulus distance, direction (approaching/receding), and congruency effects on tactile processing.
Main Results:
- Peripersonal space extension varied significantly across body parts: hand < face < trunk.
- Auditory and visual stimuli modulated tactile processing in a distance-dependent manner.
- Approaching stimuli consistently affected tactile processing, while receding stimuli only affected the hand; trunk PPS remained constant.
Conclusions:
- Evidence suggests at least three distinct, body-part specific Peripersonal space representations.
- These representations exhibit unique extensions and directional tuning.
- Distinct PPS representations are interconnected and likely referenced to a common trunk-based frame.
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