Author(s): Santos, Hugo ; Baleia, Isabel ; Brandão, Rita ; Santos, Gonçalo ; Marques, Inês ; Lamarão, João ; Morais, José ; Correia, Leonor ; Martins, Maria Elisabete
Date: 2025
Origin: Athena Health & Research Journal
Subject(s): body cognition; Body image; Body schema; Body semantics; Structural description of the body
Introduction: Body representation refers to how the brain processes information about the body, traditionally categorised by the dyadic taxonomy into body schema and body image. However, the triadic taxonomy proposes the inclusion of the body structural description and body semantics. Objectives: This scoping review retrospectively mapped existing neuroimaging studies to the dimensions proposed by dyadic taxonomy and triadic taxonomy, aiming to identify neural activation patterns, conceptual alignments, and methodological challenges in the literature. Methodology: Following Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, studies published between 2005 and 2023 investigating body representation through neuroimaging in healthy adults were systematically searched across PubMed, EBSCO, and CENTRAL databases. Results: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings indicated predominant activation of the parietal cortex, fusiform gyrus, and premotor cortex, with notable overlap between body schema and body structural description. No study explicitly adopted dyadic taxonomy or triadic taxonomy frameworks. Methodological heterogeneity, particularly variability in experimental paradigms and exclusive use of functional magnetic resonance imaging, limited comparability and temporal analysis of body representation processes. Conclusion: Current neuroimaging evidence does not yet consolidate triadic taxonomy constructs, highlighting the need for theoretical standardisation and the integration of multimodal approaches to better delineate the neurobiological bases of body representation.
