Better Safe Than Sorry? The Safety Margin Surrounding the Body is Increased by Anxiety

Overview

Journal J Neurosci

Specialty Neurology

Date 2013 Aug 30

PMID 23986256

Citations 78

Authors

Chiara F Sambo

Gian Domenico Iannetti

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The defensive peripersonal space represents a "safety margin" advantageous for survival. Its spatial extension and the possible relationship with personality traits have never been investigated. Here, in a population of 15 healthy human participants, we show that the defensive peripersonal space has a sharp boundary, located between 20 and 40 cm from the face, and that within such space there is a thin, "highest-risk area" closest to the face (i.e., an "ultra-near" defensive space). Single-subject analysis revealed clear interindividual differences in the extension of such peripersonal space. These differences are positively related to individual variability in trait anxiety. These findings point to the potential for measuring a range of defensive behaviors in relation to individual levels of anxiety. Such measures will allow developing procedures to test risk assessment abilities, particularly in professions that require reacting quickly to aversive stimuli near the body, such as firemen, policemen, and military officers. This may also lead to possible interventions to improve their performance under pressure.

Citing Articles

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No cardiac phase bias for threat-related distance perception under naturalistic conditions in immersive virtual reality.

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The space between us: The effect of perceived threat on discomfort distance and perceived pleasantness of interpersonal vicarious touch.

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