The Extrastriate Body Area and identity processing: An fMRI guided TMS study

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Visual Perception

Background:

• The extrastriate body area (EBA) is a brain region in the lateral occipito-temporal cortex selective for body perception.
• Its precise role in distinguishing self from other body representations is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the contribution of the EBA to self-other body distinction.
• To examine potential hemispheric differences in EBA's role in self-other processing.

Main Methods:

• Used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for EBA localization.
• Applied double-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to right EBA, left EBA, and vertex (control site).
• Participants performed a hand identification task (self vs. others) during TMS.

Main Results:

• TMS over both left and right EBA slowed response times without affecting self/other identification.
• Right EBA stimulation at 100-110 ms post-stimulus onset significantly increased errors for identifying others' hands.
• No significant effects were observed for self-hands across conditions or for left EBA/vertex stimulation on other's hands.

Conclusions:

• The EBA, particularly the right hemisphere, plays a role in discriminating self from other body parts.
• Findings suggest a specialized function for EBA in self-other body recognition, with potential lateralization.