Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MyFirstBody (My first body: bodily-self representation in normal and pathological developmental context)
Reporting period: 2023-05-01 to 2025-10-31
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, MyFirstBody will look for implicit signatures of BSR emergence in prenatal and postnatal life, by describing the maturation of the crucial components identified through the study of neurological patients (WP1). Then, the project will move to a causative level, by challenging i) the neural mechanism that underpins BSR emergence (WP2) and b) the developmental context that leads to its normal and pathological growth (WP3). It is expected to describe a clear picture of BSR development (WP1) and its underlying network dynamics (WP2), starting from 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), MyFirstBody will 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.
During the first 24 months of the project, we have focused on tracing the developmental origins of bodily self-representation (BSR), from the prenatal stage through early infancy, and on identifying how atypical motor experience may alter this trajectory. Our approach combines behavioral and neurophysiological methods, applied across typical and clinical populations, to characterize when and how key components of BSR emerge and are supported by developing neural systems.
In the prenatal phase, we refined a novel method to track fetal eye-lens movement as an index of attentional orienting across sensory modalities. Our findings demonstrate that fetuses respond to visual, acoustic and tactile stimuli already at the beginning of the third trimester. For the multisensory stimulation protocol, data collection is now nearly complete and will allow us to assess, for the first time, the presence or absence of multisensory integration (MSI) in utero.
Postnatally, we conducted EEG studies in neonates and infants, focusing on both visual and multisensory paradigms. Using a fast periodic visual stimulation (FPVS) protocol, we found that 6 months old infants are able to visually discriminate images of body parts from objects, and this discrimination is associated with emerging fine motor abilities. These results suggest a functional link between motor development and the formation of visual body representations early in life. For what concerns multisensory integration paradigms, we developed an ERP protocol capable of capturing multisensory integration modulations induced by postural manipulations that ecologically mimic the motor milestones achieved by infants at different ages. Furthermore, we developed a new methodology for extracting kinematic parameters that describe infants' motor abilities at the various timepoints at which they were tested with the EEG protocol.
To validate and optimize the experimental paradigms for developmental neuroimaging, we piloted them in adults using fMRI and fNIRS. In an fMRI study targeting visual body perception, we employed inter-subject correlation analyses to identify common patterns of brain activity across participants. Results indicated increased engagement of somatosensory regions when participants viewed images of their own hand, suggesting early involvement of cross-modal networks in bodily self-processing. Then, we piloted an fMRI audio-tactile multisensory task designed to reveal the recruitment of the functional network involved in body-related multisensory integration without requiring active involvement of the participant. We revealed activation of the bodily-self representation network during a post-MSI training resting state, making it suitable for pre- and postnatal populations. A significant methodological advancement was the collaboration with the University of Tübingen (Prof. Preissl) to integrate fetal MEG into the project.
Finally, we initiated data collection in clinical populations to examine how early motor deprivation influences BSR development. We used the same experimental protocols as in the typical cohorts to assess both children with congenital motor impairments (e.g. cerebral palsy) and individuals with acquired motor deficits (e.g. post-stroke hemiplegia). Preliminary findings indicate that disrupted motor experience affects the emergence and integration of bodily self-related signals.
In the prenatal phase, we refined a novel method to track fetal eye-lens movement as an index of attentional orienting across sensory modalities. Our findings demonstrate that fetuses respond to visual, acoustic and tactile stimuli already at the beginning of the third trimester. For the multisensory stimulation protocol, data collection is now nearly complete and will allow us to assess, for the first time, the presence or absence of multisensory integration (MSI) in utero.
Postnatally, we conducted EEG studies in neonates and infants, focusing on both visual and multisensory paradigms. Using a fast periodic visual stimulation (FPVS) protocol, we found that 6 months old infants are able to visually discriminate images of body parts from objects, and this discrimination is associated with emerging fine motor abilities. These results suggest a functional link between motor development and the formation of visual body representations early in life. For what concerns multisensory integration paradigms, we developed an ERP protocol capable of capturing multisensory integration modulations induced by postural manipulations that ecologically mimic the motor milestones achieved by infants at different ages. Furthermore, we developed a new methodology for extracting kinematic parameters that describe infants' motor abilities at the various timepoints at which they were tested with the EEG protocol.
To validate and optimize the experimental paradigms for developmental neuroimaging, we piloted them in adults using fMRI and fNIRS. In an fMRI study targeting visual body perception, we employed inter-subject correlation analyses to identify common patterns of brain activity across participants. Results indicated increased engagement of somatosensory regions when participants viewed images of their own hand, suggesting early involvement of cross-modal networks in bodily self-processing. Then, we piloted an fMRI audio-tactile multisensory task designed to reveal the recruitment of the functional network involved in body-related multisensory integration without requiring active involvement of the participant. We revealed activation of the bodily-self representation network during a post-MSI training resting state, making it suitable for pre- and postnatal populations. A significant methodological advancement was the collaboration with the University of Tübingen (Prof. Preissl) to integrate fetal MEG into the project.
Finally, we initiated data collection in clinical populations to examine how early motor deprivation influences BSR development. We used the same experimental protocols as in the typical cohorts to assess both children with congenital motor impairments (e.g. cerebral palsy) and individuals with acquired motor deficits (e.g. post-stroke hemiplegia). Preliminary findings indicate that disrupted motor experience affects the emergence and integration of bodily self-related signals.
In the first 24 months of the projects, we layed the basis for important advances beyond the current state-of-the-art in both basic research and translational applications, through two key technology development initiatives.
First, we have initiated the development of a novel eye-tracking system specifically designed for fetal applications. This is a technically challenging and highly innovative effort, as current approaches to studying fetal visual behavior are extremely limited. Our work aims to provide a non-invasive means of monitoring ocular activity in utero, which could open new research directions in fetal sensory development and visual attention. While the idea was included in the project vision, the progress made in prototyping and initial validation has gone beyond expectations at this stage.
Second, in parallel, we are starting to employ fetal MEG in a novel way to study multisensory integration processes in the fetal brain. Fetal MEG is itself a cutting-edge, rarely used tool due to its technical complexity and limited availability. Leveraging this technology, we have developed paradigms that probe fetal responses to combined auditory and tactile stimulation, aiming to understand how the brain begins to integrate information across sensory modalities before birth. These applications push the boundaries of what has been previously possible in developmental neuroscience.
Third, another significant advance, currently at the proof-of-concept stage, concerns the development of devices aimed at reconstructing sensorimotor contingencies in children with cerebral palsy. These tools integrate wearable sensors and neurophysiological data to model the interaction between sensory input and motor output. The resulting system has the potential to support earlier and more personalized clinical interventions. This initiative was planned and will be the subject of the application for an ERC Proof of Concept grant that we will submit this summer.
First, we have initiated the development of a novel eye-tracking system specifically designed for fetal applications. This is a technically challenging and highly innovative effort, as current approaches to studying fetal visual behavior are extremely limited. Our work aims to provide a non-invasive means of monitoring ocular activity in utero, which could open new research directions in fetal sensory development and visual attention. While the idea was included in the project vision, the progress made in prototyping and initial validation has gone beyond expectations at this stage.
Second, in parallel, we are starting to employ fetal MEG in a novel way to study multisensory integration processes in the fetal brain. Fetal MEG is itself a cutting-edge, rarely used tool due to its technical complexity and limited availability. Leveraging this technology, we have developed paradigms that probe fetal responses to combined auditory and tactile stimulation, aiming to understand how the brain begins to integrate information across sensory modalities before birth. These applications push the boundaries of what has been previously possible in developmental neuroscience.
Third, another significant advance, currently at the proof-of-concept stage, concerns the development of devices aimed at reconstructing sensorimotor contingencies in children with cerebral palsy. These tools integrate wearable sensors and neurophysiological data to model the interaction between sensory input and motor output. The resulting system has the potential to support earlier and more personalized clinical interventions. This initiative was planned and will be the subject of the application for an ERC Proof of Concept grant that we will submit this summer.