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Articles, Behavioral/Cognitive

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

Chiara F. Sambo and Gian Domenico Iannetti
Journal of Neuroscience 28 August 2013, 33 (35) 14225-14230; https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0706-13.2013
Chiara F. Sambo
Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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Gian Domenico Iannetti
Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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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.

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The Journal of Neuroscience: 33 (35)
Journal of Neuroscience
Vol. 33, Issue 35
28 Aug 2013
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Better Safe Than Sorry? The Safety Margin Surrounding the Body Is Increased by Anxiety
Chiara F. Sambo, Gian Domenico Iannetti
Journal of Neuroscience 28 August 2013, 33 (35) 14225-14230; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0706-13.2013

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Better Safe Than Sorry? The Safety Margin Surrounding the Body Is Increased by Anxiety
Chiara F. Sambo, Gian Domenico Iannetti
Journal of Neuroscience 28 August 2013, 33 (35) 14225-14230; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0706-13.2013
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