Long-term musical training modulates the body model

What is it about?

Our hands are essential for daily activities, but interestingly, the way their size and shape are perceived in the mind is often distorted. One representation, the 'body model,' features two characteristic distortions: an overestimation of hand width and an underestimation of finger length. One proposal is that these distortions may actually help certain skills, like playing baseball or sign language. This study examined expert pianists, who require precise finger awareness, compared to non-pianists of the same age and gender. Pianists were significantly better at estimating hand width, aligning closely with their actual hand size, suggesting their training enhances body representation. Both groups underestimated finger length, likely due to the curved finger position used in piano playing. These results support the idea that body model distortions may enhance specialized skills.

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