Have you ever wondered where “you” end and the outside world begins? It’s a curious question, and recent studies show that our brain works hard to define that boundary. Researchers from Sweden and France have explored how certain brain waves contribute to our sense of body ownership.
In their experiments, involving 106 participants, scientists used something called the “rubber hand illusion.” This classic trick involves hiding a person’s real hand and replacing it with a rubber one. When both hands are touched at the same time, many people start to feel like the rubber hand is actually theirs.
This illusion was studied using EEG (electroencephalography), which tracks brain activity. The findings indicated that alpha waves in the parietal cortex are crucial for our sense of body ownership. This part of the brain helps us understand where our body is in space and shapes our sense of self.
Lead researcher Mariano D’Angelo from the Karolinska Institute mentioned, “We have identified a fundamental brain process that shapes our continuous experience of being embodied.” These insights could have implications for psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia, where one’s sense of self can be distorted.
In one part of the study, participants experienced taps on both their real and fake hands. When the taps were in sync, they felt a stronger connection to the rubber hand. However, the feeling faded as the timing between taps increased. The EEG data revealed that those with faster alpha waves could differentiate the fake hand more easily, while those with slower waves felt a stronger sense of ownership over the rubber hand.
To dig deeper, researchers manipulated the alpha wave frequencies using a non-invasive method that speeds up or slows down brain activity. They found that quickening the alpha waves made participants more sensitive to timing mismatches, tightening their sense of body ownership. Conversely, slowing down the waves made it more challenging for them to distinguish between their own body and the external object.
Henrik Ehrsson, another neuroscientist involved in the study, highlighted the importance of these findings. They could lead to better treatments for conditions like schizophrenia or ‘phantom limb’ sensations in amputees. The insights might also enhance the design of prosthetic limbs and virtual reality systems, making them more realistic.
The research was published in the journal Nature Communications. Understanding how our brains create a sense of self is not just a fascinating topic; it could have real-world benefits for many people.
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