title: Tool-use reshapes the boundaries of body and peripersonal space representations.
abstract: Interaction with objects in the environment typically requires integrating information concerning the object location with the position and size of body parts. The former information is coded in a multisensory representation of the space around the body, a representation of peripersonal space (PPS), whereas the latter is enabled by an online, constantly updated, action-orientated multisensory representation of the body (BR). Using a tool to act upon relatively distant objects extends PPS representation. This effect has been interpreted as indicating that tools can be incorporated into BR. However, empirical data showing that tool-use simultaneously affects PPS representation and BR are lacking. To study this issue, we assessed the extent of PPS representation by means of an audio-tactile interaction task and BR by means of a tactile distance perception task and a body-landmarks localisation task, before and after using a 1-m-long tool to reach far objects. Tool-use extended the representation of PPS along the tool axis and concurrently shaped BR; after tool-use, subjects perceived their forearm narrower and longer compared to before tool-use, a shape more similar to the one of the tool. Tool-use was necessary to induce these effects, since a pointing task did not affect PPS and BR. These results show that a brief training with a tool induces plastic changes both to the perceived dimensions of the body part acting upon the tool and to the space around it, suggesting a strong overlap between peripersonal space and body representation.
authors: Centre for studies and research in cognitive neuroscience (CsrNC), Polo Scientifico-Didattico di Cesena, viale Europa 980, 47521, Cesena, Italy. elisa.canzoneri3@unibo.it
authors: Elisa
authors: E
authors: Canzoneri
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Ubaldi
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Rastelli
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Finisguerra
authors: Michela
authors: M
authors: Bassolino
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Serino
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D004215:Distance Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology*; D010550:Personal Space; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch; D055698:Touch Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult
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