Christian Pfeiffer
Papers
4
Total Citations
255
H-Index
4
About
Christian Pfeiffer investigates the neural and cognitive foundations of bodily self-consciousness, focusing on how multisensory integration—combining visual, tactile, and vestibular signals—shapes our sense of self. His major contributions include demonstrating that illusory self-identification with an avatar can reduce physiological responses to pain, a finding with over 100 citations that bridges virtual reality and clinical applications. In a landmark 2013 study (101 citations), he systematically examined how visuo-tactile and visuo-vestibular conflicts influence self-identification, self-location, and the subjective first-person perspective, revealing the multisensory origins of where we feel our self to be. His work on visuospatial viewpoint manipulation during full-body illusions further clarifies how perspective-taking alters bodily awareness. Pfeiffer also pioneered the use of neuroscience robotics to probe multisensory integration and bodily awareness, offering novel experimental tools for understanding conditions like out-of-body experiences. With over 250 citations across his key papers, his research has profound implications for virtual reality, neurorehabilitation, and the philosophy of selfhood, establishing him as a leading figure in the study of embodied consciousness.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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