Mechanisms of extended body phenomena :　the differences between passive and active inputs, and relation to mirror system

Our recognition of our own body can be extended to out of the body area. For example, watching a rubber hand being stroked, while one’s own unseen hand is synchronously stroked, may cause the rubber hand to be attributed to one’s own body (rubber hand illusion: RHI). Visuo-tactile correlation drive the illusion as a necessary, but sufficient. The correspondences of the rubber hands’ posture and appearance with body-schema are also necessary conditions. On the other hand, in active behavior, those conditions are not necessary. It is sufficient for recognizing extended body that visual feedback was a predictable consequence of movement. In addition, it is reported that mirror system and empathy are related to extended body phenomena. Thus, take into consideration above, this article proposes the model about extended body mechanisms, then consider the future research