A body of evidence
avatars and the generative nature of bodily perception
pp. 95-120
in: Anthony Lewis Brooks, Sheryl Brahnam (eds), Technologies of inclusive well-being, Berlin, Springer, 2014Abstract
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) causes dramatic changes in perceptions of the body that are difficult to communicate. This chapter discusses a proof of concept study, evaluating an interactive application designed to assist patients in describing their perception of their body. This was tested with a group of CRPS patients admitted to a 2 week inpatient rehabilitation program who used the application in a consultation with a research nurse. The chapter draws upon audio recordings and a structured questionnaire designed to capture the experience of using the tool. Participants' reports of the positive impact of being able to see what they had previously only been able to feel (and often unable to describe) are examined. This is considered alongside studies within cognitive neuroscience examining phenomena such as the Rubber Hand Illusion and considers what this might mean for the representation of our body within virtual spaces.