14 DAY TRIAL // When our ancestors began to use tools, quite simply put the world changed. Things that had been unreachable and impossible to achieve until then suddenly became simpler. Humans or humanoids could now use the tool to take fruits down from trees, to make rudimentary enclosures, to carve stone and wood, and, most importantly, to create weapons. This is what ultimately made this species, which, physically speaking, is considerably outclassed by others, rule the world.
Some of the tools that were invented in the early days remained with us until modern times. Spears are still used, at least for decorative purposes, while knives can be found in any home on Earth, by the dozens. Researchers now say that our use of these instruments, and others, has a considerable impact on our brain, causing it to essentially modify its perception on the world around us. Although that may seem a bit of a stretch at first, the scientists ensure that it's not.
For example, French researchers at the Claude Bernard University in Lyon, led by experts Alessandro Farnè and Lucilla Cardinali, decided to measure how using a grabber tool would affect a number of test subjects. The participants were given instruments similar to those workers who picked litter used, and asked to handle objects from a distance with them. During the investigation, the team analyzed the volunteers' body schema, which is basically a brain-generated map that shows the mind where the limbs are, how long they are, and where they end.
The participants were asked to handle rectangular blocks for up to 15 minutes, and then split into two groups. One was asked to point towards the block, while the other was requested to grab it. While the test subjects were doing this, the researchers had their high-speed motion detectors pointed at them. The results revealed that those who used the grabber tended to approach the object with less acceleration, which hinted at the fact that they unconsciously believed that their arms were longer.
According to researchers, people using instruments tend to view their personal space as increasing when they pick up the tool of their trade. Woodsmen and tennis players feel like their “area of influence” has increased when they hold the ax or the racket, Nature News reports. And these finds are also supported by the fact that their neurons fire differently when this happens, as proven by other scientific studies.