Corporeal self-avatar recognition in virtual reality

Abstract

The ability to distinguish oneself from others is considered one of the crucial indicators of self-recognition. As a result, various studies on self-recognition have been conducted in the fields of psychology and cognitive science. However, with the increasing public interest in virtual worlds following the pandemic, self-recognition in the digital realm has emerged as an important topic. Therefore, in this paper, we investigated self-identification with avatars in virtual reality (VR) through visual search and self-identification tasks. In Study 1, we examined the efficiency of processing one's own avatar based on the factors of avatar selection choice, embodiment experience, and the level of movement synchrony during the embodiment process, measured through reaction times. It was found that after experiencing a certain period of embodiment, individuals showed a pronounced self-recognition with their avatars compared to others' avatars. In Study 2, we investigated the influence of visual appearance congruency and motion synchrony on self-avatar recognition using the self-identification task. It was revealed that during the task, participants were more likely to perceive avatars that matched their own actions as more self-related than avatars that were embodied through the process of embodiment. These findings highlight the significance of behavioral congruence rather than visual information in forming cognitive connections between avatars and users, providing valuable insights for future research on avatar-user relationships.