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The Developing Bodily Self: How Posture Constrains Body Representation in Childhood
Author(s) -
Gottwald Janna M.,
Bird LauraAshleigh,
Keenaghan Samantha,
Diamond Clare,
Zampieri Eliana,
Tosodduk Haleema,
Bremner Andrew J.,
Cowie Dorothy
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.13425
Subject(s) - psychology , proprioception , illusion , representation (politics) , cognitive psychology , developmental psychology , body schema , perception , neuroscience , politics , political science , law
Adults’ body representation is constrained by multisensory information and knowledge of the body such as its possible postures. This study ( N = 180) tested for similar constraints in children. Using the rubber hand illusion with adults and 6‐ to 7‐year olds, we measured proprioceptive drift (an index of hand localization) and ratings of felt hand ownership. The fake hand was either congruent or incongruent with the participant’s own. Across ages, congruency of posture and visual–tactile congruency yielded greater drift toward the fake hand. Ownership ratings were higher with congruent visual–tactile information, but unaffected by posture. Posture constrains body representation similarly in children and adults, suggesting that children have sensitive, robust mechanisms for maintaining a sense of bodily self.