Researchers reveal the sounds that can help improve body size perception

The perception we have of our body is always changing. It’s why we can love those new pants one day and be googling returns policies the next. But you may be surprised to learn that sound and object motion can also influence that perception.

"These results reveal the surprising importance that sound and movement have on body representation. We don't just feel and see our bodies, we also hear ourselves whenever we interact with solid objects," explained lead researcher Dr. Ana Tajadura-Jiménez.

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January 10th 2018

a year ago

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Typically when an object is dropped, the brain estimates when it will hit the floor based on a prediction of the height from which it fell. If you’re the one dropping the ball then the brain has made a prediction of your height, subconsciously influencing how you perceive your body.

The study worked by artificially lengthening the time it took for the ball to hit the floor, tricking the brain into thinking that the body was taller. Although it may not sound like much, the results could help people suffering from poor proprioception – such as people with Parkinsons’s Disease or who have experienced a stroke.

“This could be also really promising avenue for treating clinical conditions where people suffer from chronic pain or other conditions linked to distorted mental body representations such as anorexia nervosa, " said Dr. Tajadura-Jiménez.

Aside from the medical application, researchers also predict that these results could help the gaming industry to develop more realistic avatars in virtual reality games. "This is not only valuable for clinical applications but could also inform the development of technologies for motion controlled games where players take on a larger character on screen," said co-author Dr. Norimichi Kitagawa.