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Exploring Peri-Personal Space: Your Personal Bubble

Writer: Sonia Kumar-Seguin

Sonia Kumar-Seguin

Nov 18, 2023

Updated: Apr 30, 2024

Peri-Personal Space (PPS)

people tend to maintain a certain distance from one another in various social settings

This unspoken yet well-defined space around us is known as "Peri-Personal Space." 

What Is Peri-Personal Space?

Peri-Personal Space, often abbreviated as PPS, refers to the area immediately surrounding an individual's body, where sensory and motor functions are closely integrated. It's the region in which you can interact with objects and people using your senses and movements without feeling uncomfortable or anxious.

This space is not rigid; it can expand or contract based on factors such as the situation, cultural norms, personal preferences, and the familiarity you have with the people around you. 

Think of it as an invisible buffer zone that allows you to navigate the world without feeling constantly threatened or overwhelmed by external stimuli.

Understanding the neuroscience behind Peri-Personal Space can shed light on why it exists and how it functions.

Neuroscience Behind PPS

Understanding it can shed light on why it exists and how it functions. 

The brain processes sensory information within the PPS differently than information from more distant areas. 

Research has shown that the posterior parietal cortex, a brain region, plays a crucial role in integrating visual, tactile, and proprioceptive signals within this space.

 This integration allows us to interact with objects and individuals effectively, as well as to protect ourselves when necessary.

Why Is PPS Important?

Peri-Personal Space is essential for a variety of reasons:

Social Interactions: It influences our social interactions by defining the distance we maintain when talking to others. (Boundary)

This concept is deeply embedded in cultural norms and plays a role in shaping our comfort levels during conversations.

Influences our social interactions by defining the distance

Safety and Defence: PPS helps us detect potential threats and react to them quickly. Think about how you instinctively flinch when something comes too close to your face.

Safety and Security ; PPS helps us detect potential threats

PPS helps us detect potential threats

Motor Control: PPS is crucial for fine motor skills, such as picking up objects, typing on a keyboard, or even hugging someone. Our ability to perform these tasks relies on the brain's precise control within this space.

Motor Control - PPS is crucial for fine motor skills

Emotional Well-Being: Violations of your PPS can make you feel uncomfortable, anxious, or even threatened. Being aware of this space can help you manage personal boundaries, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being.

Helps in Emotional Well-Being

The Influence of Culture and Personal Space

Cultural differences significantly affect how individuals perceive and maintain their PPS. 

Some cultures have larger PPS, leading to greater interpersonal distances, while others have smaller PPS, resulting in closer personal space during conversations.

 Understanding these cultural variations is essential for effective cross-cultural communication.

Influence of Culture and Personal Space

 personal preferences play a significant role in determining the size of one's PPS. 

Introverts may need more personal space, while extroverts may feel comfortable with a smaller PPS. 

Respect for individual differences is essential in creating comfortable social environments.

Peri-Personal Space - an Invisible Bubble

Next time you find yourself in a crowded elevator, engaging in a business meeting, or simply having a conversation with someone, remember the invisible bubble around you that defines your comfort zone – your Peri-Personal Space.

he neuroscience behind it and considering cultural and personal factors, we can navigate social situations more effectively and respect personal boundaries.

Personal Space - an Invisible Bubble

Peri-Personal Space - an Invisible Bubble

Next time you find yourself in a crowded elevator, engaging in a business meeting, or simply having a conversation with someone, remember the invisible bubble around you that defines your comfort zone – your Peri-Personal Space.

Extrapersonal space refers to the area outside an individual's body, encompassing the environment and objects within it, which lies beyond immediate reach and requires locomotion or other forms of navigation to access.

 It is a critical component of spatial awareness, enabling individuals to understand the position of objects relative to their body and to navigate complex environments effectively.

 This space is processed by specific brain regions, including the posterior parietal cortex (PPC), premotor cortex, and occipital cortex, which integrate sensory inputs from vision, audition, and proprioception to create a coherent representation of the external world.

 The accurate perception of extrapersonal space is essential for motor planning and execution, influencing actions such as reaching, grasping, and locomotion, and its representation can be dynamically adjusted based on context, including emotional and social factors.