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Mindfulness Affects the Boundaries of Bodily Self-Representation: The Effect of Focused-Attention Meditation in Fading the Boundary of Peripersonal Space

Authors :
Salvatore Gaetano Chiarella
Riccardo De Pastina
Antonino Raffone
Luca Simione
Source :
Behavioral Sciences, Vol 14, Iss 4, p 306 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Peripersonal space (PPS) is a dynamic multisensory representation of the space around the body, influenced by internal and external sensory information. The malleability of PPS boundaries, as evidenced by their expansion after tool use or modulation through social interactions, positions PPS as a crucial element in understanding the subjective experiences of self and otherness. Building on the existing literature highlighting both the cognitive and bodily effects of mindfulness meditation, this study proposes a novel approach by employing focused-attention meditation (FAM) and a multisensory audio–tactile task to assess PPS in both the extension and sharpness of its boundaries. The research hypothesis posits that FAM, which emphasizes heightened attention to bodily sensations and interoception, may reduce the extension of PPS and make its boundaries less sharp. We enrolled 26 non-meditators who underwent a repeated measure design in which they completed the PPS task before and after a 15-min FAM induction. We found a significant reduction in the sharpness of PPS boundaries but no significant reduction in PPS extension. These results provide novel insights into the immediate effects of FAM on PPS, potentially shedding light on the modulation of self–other representations in both cognitive and bodily domains. Indeed, our findings could have implications for understanding the intricate relationship between mindfulness practices and the subjective experience of self within spatial contexts.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2076328X
Volume :
14
Issue :
4
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Behavioral Sciences
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.00767d14adc4eb2ac8559a738cac04d
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14040306