title: Individual Differences in the Flexibility of Peripersonal Space.
abstract: The current study investigated individual differences in the flexibility of peripersonal space (i.e., representational space near the body), specifically in relation to trait claustrophobic fear (i.e., fear of suffocating or being physically restricted). Participants completed a line bisection task with either a laser pointer (Laser condition), allowing for a baseline measure of the size of one's peripersonal space, or a stick (Stick condition), which produces expansion of one's peripersonal space. Our results revealed that individuals high in claustrophobic fear had larger peripersonal spaces than those lower in claustrophobic fear, replicating previous research. We also found that, whereas individuals low in claustrophobic fear demonstrated the expected expansion of peripersonal space in the Stick condition, individuals high in claustrophobic fear showed less expansion, suggesting decreased flexibility. We discuss these findings in relation to the defensive function of peripersonal space and reduced attentional flexibility associated with trait anxieties.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Hunley
authors.affiliation: 2 Clinical Child Psychology Program, University of Kansas, KS, USA.
authors.forename: Arwen M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Marker
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Stella F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Lourenco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008297:Male; D010550:Personal Space; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: claustrophobic fear; line bisection; perception; peripersonal space; spatial attention