Description du projet
Élucider le mystère de la perception de soi
Pour comprendre l’essence du soi, les chercheurs ont depuis longtemps reconnu l’importance de l’autoreprésentation du corps (BSR pour «bodily self-representation») comme élément central de notre identité. L’étude a montré que les lésions cérébrales peuvent perturber de manière sélective la BSR. C’est dans cette optique que le projet MyFirstBody, financé par le CER, vise à fournir le premier compte rendu complet des aspects développementaux de la BSR. En combinant les perspectives neuropsychologiques et développementales, le projet entend décrypter l’émergence et la maturation de la BSR depuis les stades prénataux jusqu’à la vie postnatale. Les techniques avancées de neuro-imagerie apporteront un éclairage sur les mécanismes neuronaux sous-jacents, favorisant ainsi des avancées dans la recherche sur la conscience de soi. C’est un premier pas vers la compréhension des complexités de notre propre existence corporelle et de la façon dont nous nous percevons dans le monde.
Objectif
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.
Champ scientifique
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Thème(s)
Régime de financement
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsInstitution d’accueil
10124 Torino
Italie