Multisensory integration processes are proposed to underly bodily self-representations. We aimed to test this claim in children and regarding the most central part of one’s identity: the face. Furthermore, representations of the self are proposed to be not isolated but connected with the representations of close others constituting a potential top-down influence on changes of self-representations.
Therefore, we used the enfacement illusion in a sample of 64 5-6-year-old children to investigate 1) the effect of synchronicity of interpersonal multisensory stimulation (IMS) and 2) the effect of the identity of the other person on changes in self-other overlap.
In a between-within-mixed design, children were exposed to one trial with synchronous and one with asynchronous IMS – either with a stranger or the mother as other person. A self-recognition-task using morph videos of self and other and an enfacement questionnaire were implemented as dependent measures.
Results reveal in the stranger condition a significant effect of synchronicity on the self-recognition-task with a significantly smaller effect in the caregiver condition. Regarding the enfacement questionnaire, synchronicity of IMS had no effect in both conditions. However, closer exploration of the enfacement questionnaire ratings reveals an effect on single item level.
Overall, our findings suggest that the enfacement illusion in middle childhood is present with a stranger, but not the mother. While we thus find an effect of identity on the enfacement effect, its direction is contrary to our hypothesis. Therefore, the proposed closeness between mother and child did not increase changes in self-other overlap during IMS.