Like the back of my hand: Visual ERPs reveal a specific change detection mechanism for the bodily self

The ability to identify our own body is considered a pivotal marker of self-awareness. Previous research demonstrated that subjects are more efficient in the recognition images representing self rather than others' effectors (self-advantage). Here, we verified whether, at an electrophysiological level, bodily-self modulates change detection responses. In first EEG experiment (discovery sample), event-related potentials (ERPs) were elicited by pair sequentially presented visual stimuli (vS1; vS2), either self-hand or other people's hands. second (replicating together with previously described stimuli, also familiar hand was presented. Participants asked decide whether vS2 identical different from vS1. Accuracy and response times collected. both experiments, results confirmed presence self-advantage: participants responded faster accurately when ERP paralleled behavioral findings. Anytime presented, observed significant responses, larger N270 component for Conversely, not included, even Experiment 2, did find any modulation Overall findings, showing self-advantage selective self-hand, support existence specific mechanism devoted recognition, likely relying on multimodal (visual sensorimotor) dimension representation. We propose such self-representation may activate salience network, boosting effects specifically self-hand.