To better understand this puzzle, scientists are exploring how these distorted representations develop and how they’re processed in the brain. They’re also investigating if similar distortions occur in other body parts. Unlocking these mysteries could provide valuable insights into motor control and even potential therapies for conditions affecting body perception.
To dive deeper into this exciting research and learn more about the relationship between distorted body representations and optimal actions, check out the original article!
Distortions of body representations are not the exception but the rule. In his authoritative review, Longo [1] describes how there is a general tendency to overestimate the body width relative to the body length. For example, the perceptual representation of the hand features shortened fingers and a widened dorsum in a number of tasks and modalities (e.g., [1,2]). This raises an interesting paradox. Effective motor control requires accurate information about the structure, dimension, and position of the hand.