Temporal Factors Associated With Visual Processing Bias in Peripersonal Space

Abstract

The immediate space surrounding the body, reachable to the hands, is referred to as the Peripersonal Space (PPS). The PPS is characterized by anticipatory mechanisms to perform efficient goal-oriented or defensive actions towards objects in the environment on-time. Previous studies have shown visuo-spatial processing bias for stimuli presented in the PPS, reported in the form of faster Reaction Time, better Accuracy and enhanced Visual Sensitivity. However, recent studies show that the PPS-related effects are sensitive to temporal factors associated with the early anticipatory mechanisms in the PPS. The current manuscript highlights the temporal mechanisms underlying the PPS-related visual processing bias. Specifically, the PPS effect is conceptualized as comprising of an early anticipatory component that gives temporal allowance for the manifestation of a late component. The early component accommodates the previous studies that have explained the PPS effects to be perceptual in nature, whereas the late component accommodates the previous studies that have explained the PPS effects to be attentional in nature. To the best of our knowledge, no previous attempts have been made to conceptualize the PPS effects in terms of its time-separable components. The current conceptualization of the PPS-related effects seems more wholistic vis-à-vis the previous explanation that the effect is either perceptual or attentional in nature. Also, the current manuscript attempts to make theoretical integration between Time Perception and Peripersonal Space literature.