Enhancing bodily self-consciousness in the virtual world with synchronous multisensory stimulation, interoceptive feedback and peripersonal space expansion: A narrative review

The article explores the link between neuroscience and the design fields by discussing works on predictive brain, conscious mind, perception, and peripersonal space to increase bodily self-consciousness in the virtual world. Unlike the physical reality, the virtual world often lacks the intricate bodily feedback necessary for selfconsciousness, thus resulting in less complete virtual representations. By incorporating findings from neuroscience and the virtual world, this research suggests a theoretical approach to enhance bodily self-consciousness in different virtual worlds, particularly augmented or diminished mixed realities and holistic virtual reality. This is achieved through synchronous multisensory stimulation (visuo-tactile), interoceptive feedback, and peripersonal space expansion (visuo-tactile and audio-tactile). As a narrative review, the article not only suggests a theoretical method but also highlights the potential for future practical experiments to apply these insights.