Brain Science with Ginger Campbell, MD: Neuroscience for Everyone cover image

BS 212 Thomas Metzinger on "The Ego Tunnel" (Encore)

Brain Science with Ginger Campbell, MD: Neuroscience for Everyone

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Embodying the Virtual: Identifying with Simulated Selves

Engaging with immersive virtual reality can evoke profound psychological experiences where individuals identify with their digital avatars. In a carefully constructed environment, users perceive themselves from an external perspective while simultaneously feeling a synchronous physical interaction, creating an emotional connection with their virtual representation. This phenomenon can lead to sensations of awkwardness, a sense of 'drift' towards the avatar, and for some, a complete identification with the simulated body. Unlike traditional out-of-body experiences, this perception maintains the user's original sensory perspective. Such experiences reflect the complexity of self-representation and embodiment, suggesting parallels with the way people integrate tools into their bodily awareness.

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