A research proves that the brain infers a single body representation from real and virtual perceptions
A research published on Royal Society Journal Interface proves the relationship between body ownership and thermal sensitivity. The paper is signed by the following researchers from the Faculty of Psychology of the UB: Joan Llobera, PhD Student at the Experimental Virtual Environments Lab for Neuroscience and Technology (Event LAB), Maria V. Sanchez-Vives,ICREA researcher and leader of IDIBAPS team Systems neuroscience, and Mel Slater, both directors of Event LAB.
A research published on Royal Society Journal Interface proves the relationship between body ownership and thermal sensitivity. The paper is signed by the following researchers from the Faculty of Psychology of the UB: Joan Llobera, PhD Student at the Experimental Virtual Environments Lab for Neuroscience and Technology (Event LAB), Maria V. Sanchez-Vives,ICREA researcher and leader of IDIBAPS team Systems neuroscience, and Mel Slater, both directors of Event LAB.
The article shows that it is possible to substitute a personʼs real body for a virtual one that can be only seen in virtual reality. Participants in the study entered into virtual reality through a head-mounted display. When they looked down towards where their real body should be, they saw a virtual body. If they looked on a virtual mirror, they saw their virtual body reflected. Moreover, when they moved their hands, they saw the virtual hand move the same.