SCINOBO · Spatial Coherence and Neural Integration in Full-Body Ownership: Behavioral and Neuroimaging Investigations

Bodily self-consciousness, a core aspect of self-awareness, critically depends on body ownership, the sense that one’s body belongs to oneself. While part-based ownership has been widely studied, the role of spatial coherence among body parts in generating a unified bodily self remains unclear. SCINOBO addresses this gap by developing a novel full-body illusion paradigm that systematically manipulates spatial configurations of body parts using virtual reality. Here, my first objective is to measure behavioral effects of spatial coherence on full-body ownership using subjective ratings and physiological markers. Next, I will identify neural correlates of spatial coherence through high-resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging, examining activity and connectivity in premotor, intraparietal, and inferior parietal regions. Finally, I will test causal involvement of these regions via non-invasive brain stimulation, assessing changes in body ownership and physiological responses. In summary, these objectives establish a comprehensive account of how spatial coherence shapes the bodily self through an innovative and multi-disciplinary approach, representing a major conceptual advance beyond existing theories. Importantly, the project introduces a Gestalt-inspired framework explaining how spatial consistency among body parts produces a coherent bodily self. SCINOBO combines virtual reality, psychophysiology, neuroimaging, and brain stimulation in an integrated approach. The findings will advance understanding of bodily self-consciousness and inform neurorehabilitation strategies and virtual reality-based body representation technologies, providing both scientific and practical impact.