Avatars

We understand and interact with the world through our bodies, therefore it should not be so surprising that when we embody an avatar it has the potential to change how we perceive ourselves and how we perceive the world. In this line of research we have explored how having a virtual body changes how we perceive touch. Gonzalez-Franco, M., & Berger, C. C. (2019). Avatar embodiment enhances haptic confidence on the out-of-body touch illusion. IEEE transactions on haptics, 12(3), 319-326. http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/publication/avatar-embodiment-enhances-haptic-confidence-on-the-out-of-body-touch-illusion/ But also how the mechanisms for self-identification work when you are represented by an avatar that looks like you> Gonzalez-Franco, M., Bellido, A. I., Blom, K. J., Slater, M., & Rodriguez-Fornells, A. (2016). The neurological traces of look-alike avatars. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 10, 392.   But also when it does not look like you> Gonzalez-Franco, M., Steed, A., Hoogendyk, S., & Ofek, E., (2020). Using Facial Animation to Increase the Enfacement Illusion and Avatar Self-Identification IEEE Transactions in TVCG http://approjects.co.za/?big=en-us/research/publication/using-facial-animation-to-increase-the-enfacement-illusion-and-avatar-self-identification/