Here’s an interesting story from the NY Times about how we perceive “self” and personal space around us.
The When the Brain Says, ‘Don’t Get Too Close’
Scientist have been able to map our personal space to
specific cells in our brain. What is truly amazing is the
ability for that personal space to grow and shrink in size.
Just by carrying a stick or driving a car our personal
space can grow. Even cultural differences can result in
different sized spaces. This work has implications for
people with strokes who neglect part of their body,
anorexics who may have an altered sense of self and even
in our sense of reality. It even explains why it’s so easy
to get sucked into virtual reality games.
If our reporting has informed or inspired you, please consider making a donation. Every contribution, no matter the size, empowers us to continue delivering accurate, engaging, and trustworthy science and medical news. Independent journalism requires time, effort, and resources—your support ensures we can keep uncovering the stories that matter most to you.
Join us in making knowledge accessible and impactful. Thank you for standing with us!