Objective Wearable technology is redefining the boundaries of our own body. Wearable robotic (WR) fingers and arms are robots, designed to free up or complement our hand actions, to enhance humans’ abilities. While tremendous resources are being dedicated to the development of this groundbreaking technology, little notice is given to how the human brain might support it. The intuitive, though unfounded, view is that technology will fuse with our bodies, allowing our brains to seamlessly control it (i.e. embodied technology). This implies that our brain will share resources, originally devoted to controlling our body, to operate WRs. Here I will elucidate the conditions necessary for technological embodiment, using prosthetic limbs as a model. I will build upon knowledge gained from rehabilitation, experimental psychology and neuroscience to characterise and extend the boundaries of body representation towards successful adoption of WRs. I will combine behavioural, physiological and neuroimaging tools to address five key questions that are currently obscuring the vision of embodied technology: What conditions are necessary for a person to experience an artificial limb as part of their body? Would the resources recruited to control an artificial limb be shared, or rather conflict, with human body representation? Will the successful incorporation of WRs disorganise representations of the human limbs? Can new sensory experiences (touch) be intuitively inferred from WRs? Can the adult brain support the increased motor and cognitive demands associated with successful WRs usage? I will first focus on populations with congenital and acquired hand loss, who differ in brain resources due to plasticity, but experience similar daily-life challenges. I will then test body representation in able-bodied people while learning to use WR fingers and arm. Together, my research will provide the first foundation for guiding how to successfully incorporate technology into our body representation. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiologynatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesinternetinternet of thingsnatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencepattern recognitionengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticsmedical and health sciencesmedical biotechnologyimplants Keywords Body representation brain plasticity motor learning perceptual learning neuroimaging prosthetic limbs wearable technology Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2016-STG - ERC Starting Grant Call for proposal ERC-2016-STG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-STG - Starting Grant Coordinator UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON Net EU contribution € 1 432 743,51 Address Gower street WC1E 6BT London United Kingdom See on map Region London Inner London — West Camden and City of London Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 432 743,51 Beneficiaries (2) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 1 432 743,51 Address Gower street WC1E 6BT London See on map Region London Inner London — West Camden and City of London Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 432 743,51 THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD United Kingdom Net EU contribution € 66 662,48 Address Wellington square university offices OX1 2JD Oxford See on map Region South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 66 662,48