AUTHOR=Spanlang Bernhard , Normand Jean-Marie , Borland David , Kilteni Konstantina , Giannopoulos Elias , Pomés Ausiàs , González-Franco Mar , Perez-Marcos Daniel , Arroyo-Palacios Jorge , Muncunill Xavi Navarro , Slater Mel TITLE=How to Build an Embodiment Lab: Achieving Body Representation Illusions in Virtual Reality JOURNAL=Frontiers in Robotics and AI VOLUME=1 YEAR=2014 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/robotics-and-ai/articles/10.3389/frobt.2014.00009 DOI=10.3389/frobt.2014.00009 ISSN=2296-9144 ABSTRACT=

Advances in computer graphics algorithms and virtual reality (VR) systems, together with the reduction in cost of associated equipment, have led scientists to consider VR as a useful tool for conducting experimental studies in fields such as neuroscience and experimental psychology. In particular virtual body ownership, where the feeling of ownership over a virtual body is elicited in the participant, has become a useful tool in the study of body representation in cognitive neuroscience and psychology, concerning how the brain represents the body. Although VR has been shown to be a useful tool for exploring body ownership illusions, integrating the various technologies necessary for such a system can be daunting. In this paper, we discuss the technical infrastructure necessary to achieve virtual embodiment. We describe a basic VR system and how it may be used for this purpose, and then extend this system with the introduction of real-time motion capture, a simple haptics system and the integration of physiological and brain electrical activity recordings.