“If the virtual reality apparatus, as you called it, was wired to all of your senses and controlled them completely, would you be able to tell the difference between the virtual world and the real world? What is real? How do you define real? If you’re talking about your senses—what you feel, taste, smell, or see—then all you’re talking about are electrical signals interpreted by your brain.” — The Matrix (1999)

This thought-provoking reflection captures the essence of a question: how do human perceptions construct reality, and what happens when that construction is technologically mediated?

Nowadays, the ultra-rapid advancement of immersive and interactive technologies has radically transformed human interaction with the digital environment. A plethora of emerging technologies—including virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), robotic extensions, telepresence systems, and interactive online platforms—now enables novel modalities for experiencing, extending, and even reshaping the sense of self and body boundaries.

This Research Topic seeks to investigate the psychological, neurocognitive, and embodied dimensions of human-interface interaction, with a particular focus on individual variability and subjective experience—moving beyond mere task performance to consider the complexity of technologically mediated human experience.

Specifically, we welcome multidisciplinary contributions investigating how these technologically mediated interactions reshape bodily boundaries, emotional states, cognitive processes, and individual differences. While a wide range of methodologies is welcomed, submissions that include neurophysiological or neuroimaging data (e.g., neuroimaging or neurophysiological methods such as EEG, fNIRS, or other brain activity measures) to complement behavioral, cognitive, and self-report assessments are particularly encouraged. Articles providing neuroscientific evidence to support interpretations of embodied and immersive experiences are especially welcome. We invite contributions addressing (but not limited to) the following themes:

● Malleability of bodily boundaries in virtual environments - Investigations into how immersive environments (e.g., VR/AR) and devices for remote manipulation (e.g., robotic extensions employed in robotic surgery) shape bodily self-representation, multisensory integration, and the malleability of body boundaries

● Individual profiling in digital environments - Studies on how synchronous or asynchronous virtual platforms affect perception, emotion, learning, and decision-making, with actual and potential implications for education, work settings, psychotherapy/psychological support.

● Telepresence, flow, and embodiment phenomena - Research exploring phenomenological dimensions of human-interface interaction, such as presence, immersion, engagement, flow, sense of agency, and embodiment, and their cognitive and affective correlates.

● Trait-driven modulation of human-technology interaction - Characterization of psychological individual differences—including personality traits, cognitive and affective styles, and attitudes toward technology—that shape the interaction with digital technologies.

This Research Topic offers a unique opportunity to foster interdisciplinary dialogue across diverse fields (e.g., cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and human-computer interaction). By contributing, authors will:

● Present novel insights into how immersive, mediated, and digital technologies influence embodied cognition and the sense of self

● Characterize the role of intersubjective variability in the adaptation to immersive environments

● Inform the design of adaptive, user-centered technological systems, addressing a holistic view of technology

● Bridge theoretical constructs with real-world applications in health, education, work settings, and assistive contexts.

● Enrich the research field with significant theoretical, methodological, and translational relevance

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Embodied interfaces: Human experience in virtual and mediated worlds