Personal Space: Get Out of My Bubble

Personal space is the invisible bubble around you that you don’t want invaded without invitation. 

Invasions of personal space fire certain neurons in your brain. You have to shrink up your personal space for intimate contact. Your neurons rev up if you feel your personal space is threatened. Personal space boundaries are always in flux.

Those in power tend to have closer boundaries. This is why the boss doesn’t mind leaning in to explain things. The folks lower on the power hierarchy usually want more space. Cyberspace has changed the boundaries.

We also wrap personal space around our belongings. You don’t want someone driving too close to your car or touching your purse without invitation.

Perceptive or neurological disorders can confuse perception of personal space. Dyspraxia can affect motor skills from confusion about one’s personal space.

Listen as Dr. Michael Graziano joins Dr. Pamela Peeke to discuss how personal space works.

Sponsor:

Smarty Pants Vitamins
Personal Space: Get Out of My Bubble
Featuring:
Michael S. A. Graziano, PhD
Dr. Michael GrazianoMichael S. A. Graziano, PhD, is a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Princeton University.


For 30 years he has studied aspects of brain function from sensory processing to motor control. He currently focuses on the brain basis of human consciousness—not just how we ourselves have conscious experiences, but how we perceive that others are conscious.


His books include The Spaces Between Us: A Story of Neuroscience, Evolution, and Human Nature (2018) and Consciousness and the Social Brain (2013). He also publishes novels including the award-winning The Love Song of Monkey (2008) and The Divine Farce (2009).