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Tool use induces complex and flexible plasticity of human body representations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2012

Matthew R. Longo  and
Andrea Serino
Matthew R. Longo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Sciences, Birkbeck, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom. [email protected]://www.bbk.ac.uk/psychology/bodylab/
Andrea Serino
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università degli Studi di Bologna, 40127, Bologna. [email protected] Centro studi e ricerche in Neuroscienze Cognitive, Polo Scientifico-Didattico di Cesena, 47521, Cesena
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Abstract

Plasticity of body representation fundamentally underpins human tool use. Recent studies have demonstrated remarkably complex plasticity of body representation in humans, showing that such plasticity (1) occurs flexibly across multiple time scales and (2) involves multiple body representations responding differently to tool use. Such findings reveal remarkable sophistication of body plasticity in humans, suggesting that Vaesen may overestimate the similarity of such mechanisms in humans and non-human primates.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 35 , Issue 4 , August 2012 , pp. 229 - 230
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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