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 self-consciousness, 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.