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The development of multisensory body representation and awareness continues to 10 years of age: evidence from the rubber hand illusion

Cowie, D.; Sterling, S.; Bremner, A.J.

The development of multisensory body representation and awareness continues to 10 years of age: evidence from the rubber hand illusion Thumbnail


Authors

S. Sterling

A.J. Bremner



Abstract

Recent research using the “rubber hand illusion” shows that the multisensory processes underlying body representations are markedly different in children of 4 to 9 years and adults. In representing the position of their own hand in external space, children of this age rely more on the sight of the hand, and less on its proprioceptively felt position, than adults do. The current study investigated when during later childhood the balance between visual and proprioceptive inputs reaches an adult-like weighting. After inducing the rubber hand illusion in 10- to 13-year-olds, we asked participants to point, with eyes closed, to the perceived position of their hand. We found that pointing responses reached adult levels at 10 to 11 years, showing that at this age children perceive hand location using an adult-like balance of sensory cues. We conclude that the multisensory foundations of the bodily self undergo a protracted period of development through early and mid-childhood, reaching an adult state by 10 to 11 years.

Citation

Cowie, D., Sterling, S., & Bremner, A. (2016). The development of multisensory body representation and awareness continues to 10 years of age: evidence from the rubber hand illusion. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 142, 230-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2015.10.003

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 1, 2015
Online Publication Date Nov 18, 2015
Publication Date Feb 1, 2016
Deposit Date Oct 2, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of Experimental Child Psychology
Print ISSN 0022-0965
Electronic ISSN 1096-0457
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 142
Pages 230-238
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2015.10.003
Keywords Rubber hand illusion, Development, Body representation, Multisensory, Perception, Own-body.

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