When the digital self becomes embodied: neurosensory interaction between body and AI
Francesco Fischetti, Davide Masi, Stefania Cataldi
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) October 30, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23807583 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that prolonged screen time and virtual interactions degrade the "bodily self" and contribute to poor posture and musculoskeletal pain in young adults, potentially raising later risk of degenerative spinal conditions. Contends that postural changes involve neurophysiological processes, with muscle tone helping coregulate motor and psycho-emotional states, and frames this within embodied cognition. |
Abstract
Twenty-first-century digital technologies and prolonged screen time are significantly altering human behavior, replacing physical presence with virtual interactions and leading to a degradation of the "bodily self". This increasingly sedentary lifestyle is directly linked to widespread incorrect posture and musculoskeletal pain among young adults, rendering them highly vulnerable to degenerative spinal conditions later in life. Crucially, these postural changes are not merely mechanical but involve complex neurophysiological implications, as the skeletal muscle system plays a central role in coregulating both motor and psycho-emotional states. Operating as a dynamically adaptive property, muscle tone is highly sensitive to postural demands and altered postural muscle activity directly shifts emotional arousal and stress regulation. These findings highlight the importance of embodied cognition, a theoretical framework asserting that human cognition and self-regulation are fundamentally grounded in physical, sensorimotor interactions with the environment. Chapter in: Francesco Peluso Cassese (ed.), Algorithmic Heartbeats: Affective Education in the Age of the Fourth Revolution, REN Press – Cares srl, 2026, pp. 391-392. ISBN 979-12-82860-00-0. Volume DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23211262. Section: Kinesiology and sport between education and performance in European area.