Open AccessMultiple representations of the body schema for the same body part
Author(s) -
Kazumichi Matsumiya
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2112318119
Subject(s) - body schema , schema (genetic algorithms) , weighting , computer science , body posture , psychology , motor imagery , cognitive psychology , artificial intelligence , communication , physical medicine and rehabilitation , perception , neuroscience , information retrieval , brain–computer interface , medicine , radiology , electroencephalography
Significance Accurate motor control depends on maps of the body in the brain, called the body schema. Disorders of the body schema cause motor deficits. Although we often execute actions with different motor systems such as the eye and hand, how the body schema operates during such actions is unknown. In this study, participants simultaneously directed eye and hand movements to the same body part. These two movements were found to be guided by different body maps. This finding demonstrates multiple motor system–specific representations of the body schema, suggesting that the choice of motor system toward one’s body can determine which of the brain’s body maps is observed. This may offer a new way to visualize patients’ body schema.