The body is the medium through which we connect with the surrounding environment. The processing of multimodal stimuli that constantly hit our senses affects how we perceive our bodies and their boundaries.
Our brain is endowed with specific neural mechanisms to process multimodal inputs into coherent, unitary representations, and the ability to integrate information from different sensory modalities (i.e., multisensory integration), allowing us to map the confines between our body and the nearby space, is fundamental for survival.
Against this background, multisensory integration has been proposed to be at the root of bodily self-representation. However, the interaction between sensory modalities seems to rely on a delicate balance, as an alteration (deprivation, experimental manipulation, training, etc.) of one modality can lead to important perceptual adjustments impacting both unisensory and multisensory levels. Previous evidence suggests that a dysfunctional multisensory integration may prevent a coherent bodily self-representation.
Despite the great effort to shed light on the processes giving rise to a coherent bodily self-representation, we are still lacking a clear picture of the neural networks subserving bodily self-awareness.
When does bodily self-awareness arise?
Which cortical areas contribute to the emergence of coherent bodily self-awareness?
How is a unitary body self-representation built across the lifespan?
Which are the key elements contributing to the development of the sense of self?
Which sensory information mostly affects the bodily self?
Is it possible to restore an impaired bodily self-representation?
How and under which conditions does the bodily self-representation modulate the peripersonal space boundaries?
We also welcome works on neurotypical, psychiatric, and neurologic conditions associated with disturbances of the self.
The body is the medium through which we connect with the surrounding environment. The processing of multimodal stimuli that constantly hit our senses affects how we perceive our bodies and their boundaries.
Our brain is endowed with specific neural mechanisms to process multimodal inputs into coherent, unitary representations, and the ability to integrate information from different sensory modalities (i.e., multisensory integration), allowing us to map the confines between our body and the nearby space, is fundamental for survival.
Against this background, multisensory integration has been proposed to be at the root of bodily self-representation. However, the interaction between sensory modalities seems to rely on a delicate balance, as an alteration (deprivation, experimental manipulation, training, etc.) of one modality can lead to important perceptual adjustments impacting both unisensory and multisensory levels. Previous evidence suggests that a dysfunctional multisensory integration may prevent a coherent bodily self-representation.
Despite the great effort to shed light on the processes giving rise to a coherent bodily self-representation, we are still lacking a clear picture of the neural networks subserving bodily self-awareness.
When does bodily self-awareness arise?
Which cortical areas contribute to the emergence of coherent bodily self-awareness?
How is a unitary body self-representation built across the lifespan?
Which are the key elements contributing to the development of the sense of self?
Which sensory information mostly affects the bodily self?
Is it possible to restore an impaired bodily self-representation?
How and under which conditions does the bodily self-representation modulate the peripersonal space boundaries?
We also welcome works on neurotypical, psychiatric, and neurologic conditions associated with disturbances of the self.