Exploring Motor and Social Contributions to Peripersonal Space: A Pilot VR Study

Peripersonal space (PPS) is modulated by the presence of others, but whether this effect depends on social agency or motor capabilities remains unclear. Using virtual reality, we dissociated these factors by presenting robots that varied independently in human-likeness and mobility. While we confirm that human presence modulates PPS representation, results from robot conditions show that this modulation is driven by motor capabilities rather than social features. Moreover, PPS modulation correlates with the emotional valence attributed to the agent, whether human or artificial. These findings suggest that PPS representation is primarily shaped by perceived action potential.