Fig. 2: Enhanced self-identification was improved spatial navigation performance in the Body condition.

a Ratings of the questionnaire confirmed the effect of the experimental modulation on BSC (n = 25). Self-identification (Q1: p = 2.53e-03) and experienced threat (Q2: p = 1.42e-04) were rated significantly higher in the Body vs. the No-body condition. Each bar represents the condition-wise mean across participants, while each error bar indicates a standard error. b Exemplary traces from a participant during the spatial navigation task. c Overlay of the navigation traces per condition during the retrieval phase of the same participant (traces were rotated and shifted according to the starting and the target location, in order to better visualize the difference in distance errors and navigation efficiency). d Participants showed better spatial memory precision, indexed by lower distance errors from the correct retrieval targets (n = 27; p = 8.25e-04). In the graph, a point with whiskers indicates distance error and its 95% confidence interval estimated by the mixed-effect model. Each smaller dot represents the median of an individual participant per condition. e The arrows display the trial-by-trial reached locations and heading directions of an exemplary participant. Locations are plotted relative to the correct target point (“x”), and the arena’s border (black bold line). f Participants stopped farther away from the arena’s border compared to the No-body condition during which no virtual avatar was presented (n = 27; p = 4.80e-13). A point with whiskers indicates distance error and its 95% confidence interval estimated by the mixed-effect model. Each smaller dot represents the median of an individual participant per condition. g Mixed-effect model slopes relating Threat (Q2) to the distance from the border in the two conditions (n = 25; p = 0.026 without correction), while taking into account the condition-wise difference (p = 9.67e-3). For the pannels d, f participant-wise median values were visualized, while the statistical analysis was performed with the trial-wise values through a dedicated mixed model. *0.01 < = p < 0.05, **0.001 < = p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.