Functional and neural mechanisms of embodiment: importance of the vestibular system and the temporal parietal junction.

The sense of being located inside one's own body—embodiment—depends on distinct brain mechanisms. A review of clinical and neuroimaging studies on multisensory perception, integration, and mental imagery highlights the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) as a key region for coding embodiment. Vestibular mechanisms are especially relevant, and experimental methods that disrupt normal embodiment point to the TPJ's role. The authors conclude that multisensory and vestibular coding at the TPJ enables the experience of being embodied and spatially situated. Pathologies involving a disembodied self, such as out-of-body experiences, likely result from deficient multisensory integration at the TPJ.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Embodiment, the sense of being localized within one's physical body, is a fundamental aspect of the self. Recent research shows that self and body processing as well as embodiment require distinct brain mechanisms. Here, we review recent clinical and neuroimaging research on multisensory perception and integration as well as mental imagery, pointing out their importance for the coding of embodiment at the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ). Special reference is given to vestibular mechanisms that are relevant for self and embodiment and to methods that interfere experimentally with normal embodiment. We conclude that multisensory and vestibular coding at the TPJ mediates humans' experience as being embodied and spatially situated, and argue that pathologies concerning the disembodied self, such as out-of-body experience or other autoscopic phenomena, are due to deficient multisensory integration at the TPJ.