Project description
Unravelling the mystery of self-perception
To understand the essence of self, researchers have long recognised the significance of bodily self-representation (BSR) as a core element of our identity. Research has shown that brain damage can selectively disrupt BSR. With this in mind, the ERC-funded MyFirstBody project sets out to provide the first comprehensive account of the developmental aspects of BSR. Combining neuropsychological and developmental perspectives, the project aims to decipher the emergence and maturation of BSR from prenatal stages through postnatal life. Advanced neuroimaging techniques will shed light on the underlying neural mechanisms, fostering breakthroughs in self-awareness research. It is a first step towards unravelling the complexities of our own bodily existence and how we perceive ourselves in the world.
Objective
The representation of one’s own body as a distinct entity from the environment (i.e. bodily-self representation, BSR) is a fundamental component of our sense of self. Neuropsychological literature has provided an important contribution, revealing that brain damage can selectively disrupt BSR. MyFirstBody starts from my well-grounded expertise in BSR pathological alterations, and aims at providing the first comprehensive account of the ontogenetic development of BSR, by translating from a neuropsychological to a developmental perspective. First, I will look for implicit signatures of the BSR emergence in prenatal and postnatal life, by describing the maturation of the crucial components identified through the study of neurological patients (WP1). Then, I will move to a causative level, by challenging i) the neural mechanism that underpins the BSR emergence (WP2) and b) the developmental context that leads to its normal and pathological growth (WP3). I expect to describe a clear picture of BSR development (WP1) and its underlying network dynamics (WP2), starting with a primitive coding of the bodily-self in space, which likely emerges in the maternal womb, and proceeding to further specializations along post-natal life until the maturation of a more abstract knowledge of the bodily-self. From the comparison between congenital and acquired motor deprivations (WP3), I expect to provide the proof that early motor experience represents the crucial context for BSR development. MyFirstBody pioneers a new area of research at the intersection between neuropsychological and developmental research, by addressing different levels of analysis (cognitive and neural) in foetuses, infants, and clinical populations, all while combining advanced neuroimaging techniques (foetal fMRI, EEG, fNIRS). The final outcome will result in original theoretical insights, innovative methods and translational impacts that will represent the optimal foundation for future investigation in the field.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsHost institution
10124 Torino
Italy