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Campillo-Ferrer T, Alcaraz-Sánchez A, Demšar E, Wu HP, Dresler M, Windt J, Blanke O. Out-of-body experiences in relation to lucid dreaming and sleep paralysis: A theoretical review and conceptual model. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 163:105770. [PMID: 38880408 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are characterized by the subjective experience of being located outside the physical body. Little is known about the neurophysiology of spontaneous OBEs, which are often reported by healthy individuals as occurring during states of reduced vigilance, particularly in proximity to or during sleep (sleep-related OBEs). In this paper, we review the current state of research on sleep-related OBEs and hypothesize that maintaining consciousness during transitions from wakefulness to REM sleep (sleep-onset REM periods) may facilitate sleep-related OBEs. Based on this hypothesis, we propose a new conceptual model that potentially describes the relationship between OBEs and sleep states. The model sheds light on the phenomenological differences between sleep-related OBEs and similar states of consciousness, such as lucid dreaming (the realization of being in a dream state) and sleep paralysis (feeling paralyzed while falling asleep or waking up), and explores the potential polysomnographic features underlying sleep-related OBEs. Additionally, we apply the predictive coding framework and suggest a connecting link between sleep-related OBEs and OBEs reported during wakefulness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Campillo-Ferrer
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Neuropsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Adriana Alcaraz-Sánchez
- Centre for Philosophical Psychology, Department of Philosophy, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Ema Demšar
- Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, Melbourne, Australia; Monash University, Department of Philosophy, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Hsin-Ping Wu
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuro-X Institute & Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Martin Dresler
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jennifer Windt
- Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, Melbourne, Australia; Monash University, Department of Philosophy, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Olaf Blanke
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuro-X Institute & Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Geneva University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
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2
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Woelk SP, Garfinkel SN. Dissociative Symptoms and Interoceptive Integration. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2024. [PMID: 38755513 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2024_480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Dissociative symptoms and disorders of dissociation are characterised by disturbances in the experience of the self and the surrounding world, manifesting as a breakdown in the normal integration of consciousness, memory, identity, emotion, and perception. This paper aims to provide insights into dissociative symptoms from the perspective of interoception, the sense of the body's internal physiological state, adopting a transdiagnostic framework.Dissociative symptoms are associated with a blunting of autonomic reactivity and a reduction in interoceptive precision. In addition to the central function of interoception in homeostasis, afferent visceral signals and their neural and mental representation have been shown to shape emotional feeling states, support memory encoding, and contribute to self-representation. Changes in interoceptive processing and disrupted integration of interoceptive signals into wider cognition may contribute to detachment from the body and the world, blunted emotional experience, and altered subjective recall, as experienced by individuals who suffer from dissociation.A better understanding of the role of altered interoceptive integration across the symptom areas of dissociation could thus provide insights into the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying dissociative disorders. As new therapeutic approaches targeting interoceptive processing emerge, recognising the significance of interoceptive mechanisms in dissociation holds potential implications for future treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha P Woelk
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Sarah N Garfinkel
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
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3
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Wu HP, Nakul E, Betka S, Lance F, Herbelin B, Blanke O. Out-of-body illusion induced by visual-vestibular stimulation. iScience 2024; 27:108547. [PMID: 38161418 PMCID: PMC10755362 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are characterized by the subjective feeling of being located outside one's physical body and perceiving one's own body from an elevated perspective looking downwards. OBEs have been correlated with abnormal integration of bodily signals, including visual and vestibular information. In two studies, we used mixed reality combined with a motion platform to manipulate visual and vestibular integration in healthy participants. Behavioral data and questionnaires show that congruent visual-vestibular stimulation in a self-centered reference frame induced an OBE-like illusion characterized by elevated self-location and feelings of disembodiment and lightness. The OBE-like illusion was also modulated by individuals' visual field dependency assessed by the Rod and Frame Test. These results show that the manipulation of visual-vestibular stimulation in the present study induces various aspects of OBEs and further link OBE to congruency mechanisms between visual and vestibular gravitational and self-motion cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsin-Ping Wu
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuro-X Institute & Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Estelle Nakul
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuro-X Institute & Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sophie Betka
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuro-X Institute & Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Florian Lance
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuro-X Institute & Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Herbelin
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuro-X Institute & Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olaf Blanke
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuro-X Institute & Brain Mind Institute, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University Hospital Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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4
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Rabellino D, Thome J, Densmore M, Théberge J, McKinnon MC, Lanius RA. The Vestibulocerebellum and the Shattered Self: a Resting-State Functional Connectivity Study in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Its Dissociative Subtype. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 22:1083-1097. [PMID: 36121553 PMCID: PMC10657293 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01467-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The flocculus is a region of the vestibulocerebellum dedicated to the coordination of neck, head, and eye movements for optimal posture, balance, and orienting responses. Despite growing evidence of vestibular and oculomotor impairments in the aftermath of traumatic stress, little is known about the effects of chronic psychological trauma on vestibulocerebellar functioning. Here, we investigated alterations in functional connectivity of the flocculus at rest among individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its dissociative subtype (PTSD + DS) as compared to healthy controls. Forty-four healthy controls, 57 PTSD, and 32 PTSD + DS underwent 6-min resting-state MRI scans. Seed-based functional connectivity analyses using the right and left flocculi as seeds were performed. These analyses revealed that, as compared to controls, PTSD and PTSD + DS showed decreased resting-state functional connectivity of the left flocculus with cortical regions involved in bodily self-consciousness, including the temporo-parietal junction, the supramarginal and angular gyri, and the superior parietal lobule. Moreover, as compared to controls, the PTSD + DS group showed decreased functional connectivity of the left flocculus with the medial prefrontal cortex, the precuneus, and the mid/posterior cingulum, key regions of the default mode network. Critically, when comparing PTSD + DS to PTSD, we observed increased functional connectivity of the right flocculus with the right anterior hippocampus, a region affected frequently by early life trauma. Taken together, our findings point toward the crucial role of the flocculus in the neurocircuitry underlying a coherent and embodied self, which can be compromised in PTSD and PTSD + DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Rabellino
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, University Hospital, (Room C3-103), 339 Windermere Road, London, ON, N6A 5A5, Canada.
- Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
| | - Janine Thome
- Department of Theoretical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maria Densmore
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, University Hospital, (Room C3-103), 339 Windermere Road, London, ON, N6A 5A5, Canada
- Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jean Théberge
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, University Hospital, (Room C3-103), 339 Windermere Road, London, ON, N6A 5A5, Canada
- Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Margaret C McKinnon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Homewood Research Institute, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Mood Disorders Program and Anxiety Treatment and Research Centre, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ruth A Lanius
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, University Hospital, (Room C3-103), 339 Windermere Road, London, ON, N6A 5A5, Canada
- Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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5
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Lyu D, Stieger JR, Xin C, Ma E, Lusk Z, Aparicio MK, Werbaneth K, Perry CM, Deisseroth K, Buch V, Parvizi J. Causal evidence for the processing of bodily self in the anterior precuneus. Neuron 2023; 111:2502-2512.e4. [PMID: 37295420 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
To probe the causal importance of the human posteromedial cortex (PMC) in processing the sense of self, we studied a rare cohort of nine patients with electrodes implanted bilaterally in the precuneus, posterior cingulate, and retrosplenial regions with a combination of neuroimaging, intracranial recordings, and direct cortical stimulations. In all participants, the stimulation of specific sites within the anterior precuneus (aPCu) caused dissociative changes in physical and spatial domains. Using single-pulse electrical stimulations and neuroimaging, we present effective and resting-state connectivity of aPCu hot zone with the rest of the brain and show that they are located outside the boundaries of the default mode network (DMN) but connected reciprocally with it. We propose that the function of this subregion of the PMC is integral to a range of cognitive processes that require the self's physical point of reference, given its location within a spatial environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian Lyu
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Departments of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - James Robert Stieger
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Departments of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Cindy Xin
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Departments of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Eileen Ma
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Departments of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Zoe Lusk
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Departments of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Mariel Kalkach Aparicio
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Katherine Werbaneth
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Departments of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Claire Megan Perry
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Departments of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Karl Deisseroth
- Departments of Psychiatry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Vivek Buch
- Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Departments of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Josef Parvizi
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Human Intracranial Cognitive Electrophysiology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Departments of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Departments of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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6
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Raoul L, Grosbras MH. Relating different Dimensions of Bodily Experiences: Review and proposition of an integrative model relying on phenomenology, predictive brain and neuroscience of the self. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 148:105141. [PMID: 36965863 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
How we mentally experience our body has been studied in a variety research domains. Each of these domains focuses in its own ways on different aspects of the body, namely the neurophysiological, perceptual, affective or social components, and proposes different conceptual taxonomies. It is therefore difficult to find one's way through this vast literature and to grasp the relationships between the different dimensions of bodily experiences. In this narrative review, we summarize the existing research directions and present their limits. We propose an integrative framework, grounded in studies on phenomenal consciousness, self-consciousness and bodily self-consciousness, that can provide a common basis for evaluating findings on different dimensions of bodily experiences. We review the putative mechanisms, relying on predictive processes, and neural substrates that support this model. We discuss how this model enables a conceptual assessment of the interrelationships between multiple dimensions of bodily experiences and potentiate interdisciplinary approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Raoul
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LNC, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, Marseille, France.
| | - Marie-Hélène Grosbras
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LNC, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, Marseille, France.
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Gamble R, Sumner P, Wilson-Smith K, Derry-Sumner H, Rajenderkumar D, Powell G. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis to probe the lived experiences of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD). J Vestib Res 2023; 33:89-103. [PMID: 36710692 PMCID: PMC10041438 DOI: 10.3233/ves-220059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a chronic neuro-vestibular condition characterised by subjective dizziness, non-spinning vertigo, and postural imbalance. Symptoms are typically induced by situations of visuo-vestibular conflict and intense visual-motion. OBJECTIVE Little research has focused on the lived experiences of people with PPPD. Therefore, our objective was to present an in-depth exploration of patient experiences and sense-making, and the effect of PPPD on psycho-social functioning. METHODS We conducted semi-structured interviews with 6 people with PPPD, who were recruited from an Audiovestibular department in Wales. We present a case-by-case Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) for each participant and present common themes. RESULTS Our analysis revealed a range of superordinate and subordinate themes, individualised to each participant, but broadly described under the following headings: dismissal and non-belief, identity loss, dissociative experiences, poor psychological well-being and processes of sense-making. CONCLUSION The qualitative experiences documented in this study will help clinicians and researchers to better understand the lived experiences of PPPD, how PPPD patients make sense of their symptoms, and the psycho-social impacts of the condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Gamble
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Petroc Sumner
- School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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Taveira MC, Sá JD, Rosa MGD. Virtual Reality-Induced Dissociative Symptoms: A Retrospective Study. Games Health J 2022; 11:262-267. [PMID: 35648035 DOI: 10.1089/g4h.2022.0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The use of virtual reality (VR) has been increasing worldwide, as devices are becoming more sophisticated and provide an escape from reality during the COVID-19 lockdown. This recent rise in the use of VR leads to new side effects being reported, such as dissociative symptoms that may or may not constitute a mental health concern. This retrospective study investigated the prevalence and intensity of dissociative symptoms in VR users, as well as some potential predisposing conditions that may trigger them, and their impact on the subjects' wellbeing. Materials and Methods: We conducted a survey (n = 358) that was posted on VR Facebook groups. This survey was approved by the University of Lisbon Medical Faculty's IRB, and comprised a modified version of the Clinician-Administered Dissociative State Scale (CADSS) and questions regarding potential risk factors known to induce dissociative disorders or experiences. Results: Data analysis revealed that 83.9% participants reported dissociative symptoms, with varying intensity according to CADSS (X̄=7.62;s=7.89). Significant correlations were found between CADSS score and the time spent playing, the use of software applications (apps) that involve virtual hands or hand tracking, history of previous dissociative experiences, traumatic childhood events, avoidant coping strategies, and psychiatric disorders. Nonetheless, most participants categorized the symptoms as nonanxiogenic (85.8%) and minute lasting (77.4%). Conclusion: In conclusion, this study revealed that although VR can induce dissociative experiences, they seem to be short lasting and nonthreatening to the individual's wellbeing and might be predicted or attenuated by managing other known risk factors for dissociative phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - João de Sá
- Department of Neurology, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Michele Gomes da Rosa
- Department of Physiology, Centro Cardiovascular da Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
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Tekgün E, Erdeniz B. Contributions of Body-Orientation to Mental Ball Dropping Task During Out-of-Body Experiences. Front Integr Neurosci 2022; 15:781935. [PMID: 35058754 PMCID: PMC8764241 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2021.781935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) provide fascinating insights into our understanding of bodily self-consciousness and the workings of the brain. Studies that examined individuals with brain lesions reported that OBEs are generally characterized by participants experiencing themselves outside their physical body (i.e., disembodied feeling) (Blanke and Arzy, 2005). Based on such a characterization, it has been shown that it is possible to create virtual OBEs in immersive virtual environments (Ehrsson, 2007; Ionta et al., 2011b; Bourdin et al., 2017). However, the extent to which body-orientation influences virtual OBEs is not well-understood. Thus, in the present study, 30 participants (within group design) experienced a full-body ownership illusion (synchronous visuo-tactile stimulation only) induced with a gender-matched full-body virtual avatar seen from the first-person perspective (1PP). At the beginning of the experiment, participants performed a mental ball dropping (MBD) task, seen from the location of their virtual avatar, to provide a baseline measurement. After this, a full-body ownership illusion (embodiment phase) was induced in all participants. This was followed by the virtual OBE illusion phase of the experiment (disembodiment phase) in which the first-person viewpoint was switched to a third-person perspective (3PP), and participants' disembodied viewpoint was gradually raised to 14 m above the virtual avatar, from which altitude they repeated the MBD task. During the experiment, this procedure was conducted twice, and the participants were allocated first to the supine or the standing body position at random. Results of the MBD task showed that the participants experienced increased MBD durations during the supine condition compared to the standing condition. Furthermore, although the findings from the subjective reports confirmed the previous findings of virtual OBEs, no significant difference between the two postures was found for body ownership. Taken together, the findings of the current study make further contributions to our understanding of both the vestibular system and time perception during OBEs.
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10
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Hearing loss versus vestibular loss as contributors to cognitive dysfunction. J Neurol 2022; 269:87-99. [PMID: 33387012 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-020-10343-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
In the last 5 years, there has been a surge in evidence that hearing loss (HL) may be a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction, including dementia. At the same time, there has been an increase in the number of studies implicating vestibular loss in cognitive dysfunction. Due to the fact that vestibular disorders often present with HL and other auditory disorders such as tinnitus, it has been suggested that, in many cases, what appears to be vestibular-related cognitive dysfunction may be due to HL (e.g., Dobbels et al. Front Neurol 11:710, 2020). This review analyses the studies of vestibular-related cognitive dysfunction which have controlled HL. It is suggested that despite the fact that many studies in the area have not controlled HL, many other studies have (~ 19/44 studies or 43%). Therefore, although there is certainly a need for further studies controlling HL, there is evidence to suggest that vestibular loss is associated with cognitive dysfunction, especially related to spatial memory. This is consistent with the overwhelming evidence from animal studies that the vestibular system transmits specific types of information about self-motion to structures such as the hippocampus.
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11
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Fingelkurts AA, Fingelkurts AA, Kallio-Tamminen T. Self, Me and I in the repertoire of spontaneously occurring altered states of Selfhood: eight neurophenomenological case study reports. Cogn Neurodyn 2021; 16:255-282. [PMID: 35401860 PMCID: PMC8934794 DOI: 10.1007/s11571-021-09719-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigates eight case reports of spontaneously emerging, brief episodes of vivid altered states of Selfhood (ASoSs) that occurred during mental exercise in six long-term meditators by using a neurophenomenological electroencephalography (EEG) approach. In agreement with the neurophenomenological methodology, first-person reports were used to identify such spontaneous ASoSs and to guide the neural analysis, which involved the estimation of three operational modules of the brain self-referential network (measured by EEG operational synchrony). The result of such analysis demonstrated that the documented ASoSs had unique neurophenomenological profiles, where several aspects or components of Selfhood (measured neurophysiologically and phenomenologically) are affected and expressed differently, but still in agreement with the neurophysiological three-dimensional construct model of the complex experiential Selfhood proposed in our earlier work (Fingelkurts et al. in Conscious Cogn 86:103031. 10.1016/j.concog.2020.103031, 2020).
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12
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Lin Y, Mukherjee M, Stergiou N, Chien JH. Using mastoid vibration can detect the uni/bilateral vestibular deterioration by aging during standing. J Vestib Res 2021; 32:145-154. [PMID: 34180442 DOI: 10.3233/ves-210042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mastoid vibration (MV) has been used to investigate unilateral vestibular dysfunction by inducing nystagmus. Additionally, this MV can be used to quantify the effect of deterioration by aging on the vestibular system during walking. Could such MV be used to assess the uni/bilateral vestibular deterioration by aging during standing? OBJECTIVE This study attempted to determine the feasibility of using MV for identifying the uni/bilateral vestibular deterioration by aging during standing. METHODS Fifteen young and ten old adults' balance control patterns were assessed by three random MV conditions: 1) No MV; 2) Unilateral MV; 3) Bilateral MV. The dependent variables were the 95% confidence ellipse areas and the sample entropy values, which were calculated based on the center of gravity displacement within each condition. RESULTS Significant main effects of MV and aging were found on all outcome variables. A significant interaction between aging and different MV types was observed in the 95% confidence ellipse area (p = 0.002) and the length of the short axis (anterior-posterior direction, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS We concluded that the MV could be used to identify different vestibular dysfunctions, specifically in old adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Lin
- Division of Physical Therapy Education, College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA
| | - Mukul Mukherjee
- Department of Biomechanics, College of Education, University of Nebraska Omaha, USA
| | - Nicholas Stergiou
- Department of Biomechanics, College of Education, University of Nebraska Omaha, USA
| | - Jung Hung Chien
- Division of Physical Therapy Education, College of Allied Health Professions, University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA
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13
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Sun Y, Coltisor A, Jacobson GP, Roberts RA. Case Study: Depersonalization and Vestibular Impairment. J Am Acad Audiol 2021; 32:324-330. [PMID: 34030195 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1723040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We describe herein the case of a patient whose primary complaints were episodic vertigo and "depersonalization," a sensation of detachment from his own body. PURPOSE This case study aims to further clinical knowledge and insight into the clinical evaluation of vertiginous patients with complaints of depersonalization. RESEARCH DESIGN This is a case study. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS A retrospective chart review of vestibular function testing done on a vertiginous patient with complaints of depersonalization was performed. RESULTS Vestibular function testing revealed absent cervical and ocular vestibular evoked myogenic potentials on the left side with normal vHIT or video Head Impulse Test, videonystagmography, and rotational chair results, suggesting peripheral vestibular impairment isolated to the left saccule and utricle. CONCLUSION The otolith end organ impairment explains the patient's postural deviation to the left side during attempts to ambulate. We recommend that clinicians should be attentive to patient complaints of depersonalization and perform vestibular evoked myogenic potential testing to determine whether evidence of at least a unilateral peripheral otolith end organ impairment exists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yini Sun
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Allison Coltisor
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Gary P Jacobson
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Richard A Roberts
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
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14
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Hitier M, Zhang YF, Sato G, Besnard S, Zheng Y, Smith PF. Stratification of hippocampal electrophysiological activation evoked by selective electrical stimulation of different angular and linear acceleration sensors in the rat peripheral vestibular system. Hear Res 2021; 403:108173. [PMID: 33465547 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2021.108173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
It has become well established that vestibular information is important for hippocampal function and spatial memory. However, as yet, relatively little is known about how different kinds of vestibular information are 'represented' in different parts of the hippocampus. This study used selective electrical stimulation of each of the 5 vestibular sensors (the horizontal (HC), anterior (AC) and posterior (PC) semi-circular canals, and the utricle and saccule) in the rat and recorded local field potentials (LFPs) across the hippocampus, using a 16 electrode microarray. We found that stimulation of any vestibular sensor in the left labyrinth evoked triphasic LFPs in both hippocampi, although it was clear that, in general, the amplitudes were greater for the right, contralateral side. This was particularly true for Phase 1 for the HC, AC, utricle and saccule, Phase 2 for the HC, PC, utricle and saccule, and Phase 3 for the AC, PC and saccule. Overall, our results suggest that vestibular input to the hippocampus is bilateral, preferentially contralateral, but highly stratified in that stimulation of the same vestibular sensor results in activation of different specific areas of the hippocampus, with different LFP amplitudes and latencies. This suggests the possibility that different regions of the hippocampus use different kinds of vestibular information for different purposes and that there may be a high degree of redundancy in the representation of vestibular input, perhaps ensuring that the hippocampus is more robust to the partial loss of vestibular information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hitier
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, CHU de Caen, France; Dept. Anatomy, UNICAEN, Normadie University, 14032 Caen, France; INSERM, U1075, COMETE, 1400, Caen, France; Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Yan-Feng Zhang
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Dept. Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Go Sato
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tokushima School of Medicine, Tokushima, Japan
| | | | - Yiwen Zheng
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Research New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence, New Zealand; Eisdell Moore Centre for Hearing and Balance Research, University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Paul F Smith
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Biomedical Sciences and Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand; Brain Research New Zealand Centre of Research Excellence, New Zealand; Eisdell Moore Centre for Hearing and Balance Research, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
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15
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The role of cognitive factors and personality traits in the perception of illusory self-motion (vection). Atten Percept Psychophys 2021; 83:1804-1817. [PMID: 33409903 PMCID: PMC8084801 DOI: 10.3758/s13414-020-02228-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Vection is a perceptual phenomenon that describes the visually induced subjective sensation of self-motion in the absence of physical motion. Previous research has discussed the potential involvement of top-down cognitive mechanisms on vection. Here, we quantified how cognitive manipulations such as contextual information (i.e., expectation) and plausibility (i.e., chair configuration) alter vection. We also explored how individual traits such as field dependence, depersonalization, anxiety, and social desirability might be related to vection. Fifty-one healthy adults were exposed to an optic flow stimulus that consisted of horizontally moving black-and-white bars presented on three adjacent monitors to generate circular vection. Participants were divided into three groups and given experimental instructions designed to induce either strong, weak, or no expectation with regard to the intensity of vection. In addition, the configuration of the chair (rotatable or fixed) was modified during the experiment. Vection onset time, duration, and intensity were recorded. Results showed that expectation altered vection intensity, but only when the chair was in the rotatable configuration. Positive correlations for vection measures with field dependence and depersonalization, but no sex-related effects were found. Our results show that vection can be altered by cognitive factors and that individual traits can affect the perception of vection, suggesting that vection is not a purely perceptual phenomenon, but can also be affected by top-down mechanisms.
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16
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Nakul E, Dabard C, Toupet M, Hautefort C, van Nechel C, Lenggenhager B, Lopez C. Interoception and embodiment in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy. J Neurol 2020; 267:109-117. [PMID: 33048217 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-020-10221-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
There are tight functional and anatomical links between the vestibular and interoceptive systems, and both systems have shown to fundamentally underlie emotional processes and our sense of a bodily self. Yet, nothing is known about how long-term bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) influences interoception and its relation to embodiment and the sense of self. We thus compared cardiac interoceptive accuracy, confidence in the performance, and general body awareness in 25 BVP patients and healthy controls using a heartbeat tracking task, self-reports about interoceptive awareness, as well as measures of self-localization and of self-body closeness. Results showed no difference between patients and controls regarding interoceptive accuracy, confidence and body awareness, suggesting that long-term BVP does not influence cardiac interoception. Patients and controls did not differ either regarding self-location and self-body closeness. However, in our overall sample of patients and controls, we found that interoceptive accuracy increased with perceived self-body closeness, suggesting that anchoring the self to the body is generally linked with better cardiac interoception. This result is in line with previous suggestions of an important contribution of interoception to the sense of embodiment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michel Toupet
- IRON, Institut de Recherche en Oto-Neurologie, Paris, France.,Centre D'Explorations Fonctionnelles Oto-Neurologiques, Paris, France
| | - Charlotte Hautefort
- IRON, Institut de Recherche en Oto-Neurologie, Paris, France.,Service ORL, Hôpital Lariboisière, Paris, France
| | - Christian van Nechel
- IRON, Institut de Recherche en Oto-Neurologie, Paris, France.,Unité Troubles de l'Équilibre et Vertiges, CHU Brugmann, Bruxelles, Belgium.,Unité de Neuro-Ophtalmologie, CHU Erasme, Bruxelles, Belgium.,Clinique des Vertiges, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Bigna Lenggenhager
- Cognitive Neuropsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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17
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Salami A, Andreu-Perez J, Gillmeister H. Symptoms of depersonalisation/derealisation disorder as measured by brain electrical activity: A systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 118:524-537. [PMID: 32846163 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Depersonalisation/derealisation disorder (DPD) refers to frequent and persistent detachment from bodily self and disengagement from the outside world. As a dissociative disorder, DPD affects 1-2 % of the population, but takes 7-12 years on average to be accurately diagnosed. In this systematic review, we comprehensively describe research targeting the neural correlates of core DPD symptoms, covering publications between 1992 and 2020 that have used electrophysiological techniques. The aim was to investigate the diagnostic potential of these relatively inexpensive and convenient neuroimaging tools. We review the EEG power spectrum, components of the event-related potential (ERP), as well as vestibular and heartbeat evoked potentials as likely electrophysiological biomarkers to study DPD symptoms. We argue that acute anxiety- or trauma-related impairments in the integration of interoceptive and exteroceptive signals play a key role in the formation of DPD symptoms, and that future research needs analysis methods that can take this integration into account. We suggest tools for prospective studies of electrophysiological DPD biomarkers, which are urgently needed to fully develop their diagnostic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Salami
- School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK; Smart Health Technologies Group, Centre for Computational Intelligence, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK.
| | - Javier Andreu-Perez
- School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK; Smart Health Technologies Group, Centre for Computational Intelligence, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK.
| | - Helge Gillmeister
- Department of Psychology and Centre for Brain Science, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK; Smart Health Technologies Group, Centre for Computational Intelligence, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK.
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18
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Lopez C, Toupet M, van Nechel C, Bozorg Grayeli A. Editorial: Role of Inner Ear in Self and Environment Perception. Front Neurol 2020; 11:22. [PMID: 32153485 PMCID: PMC7044406 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Michel Toupet
- Centre d'Explorations Fonctionnelles Otoneurologiques, Paris, France.,Institut de Recherche Oto-Neurologique (IRON), Paris, France
| | - Christian van Nechel
- Institut de Recherche Oto-Neurologique (IRON), Paris, France.,Clinique des Vertiges, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alexis Bozorg Grayeli
- Otolaryngology Department, Dijon University Hospital, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France.,Electronic, Image and Computer Research Laboratory, Le2i, Dijon, France
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19
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Hiromitsu K, Shinoura N, Yamada R, Midorikawa A. Dissociation of the subjective and objective bodies: Out-of-body experiences following the development of a posterior cingulate lesion. J Neuropsychol 2019; 14:183-192. [PMID: 31863565 PMCID: PMC7078974 DOI: 10.1111/jnp.12199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
An out‐of‐body experience (OBE) is a phenomenon whereby an individual views his/her body and the world from a location outside the physical body. Previous studies have suggested that the temporoparietal junction (TPJ), the brain region responsible for integrating multisensory signals, is responsible for OBE development. Here, however, we first present a case of OBE after brain tumour development in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). The patient was a 46‐year‐old right‐handed female; she underwent brain surgery. She reported that she had experienced OBEs several times monthly (during daily life) before surgery but never after surgery. She defined her OBEs explicitly; she drew pictures. Her OBEs exhibited phenomenological, overt dissociation of the subjective and objective bodies. We discuss the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and the relationship between OBEs and the PCC in terms of anatomical and functional brain connectivity. Our case sheds some light on the mechanism involved in creating spatial (dis)unity between the self and the body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Hiromitsu
- Department of Psychology, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo, Japan.,Institute of Cultural Sciences, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobusada Shinoura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryoji Yamada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Midorikawa
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan
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20
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Macauda G, Moisa M, Mast FW, Ruff CC, Michels L, Lenggenhager B. Shared neural mechanisms between imagined and perceived egocentric motion – A combined GVS and fMRI study. Cortex 2019; 119:20-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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21
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Grabherr L, Russek LN, Bellan V, Shohag M, Camfferman D, Moseley GL. The disappearing hand: vestibular stimulation does not improve hand localisation. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7201. [PMID: 31388469 PMCID: PMC6662564 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Bodily self-consciousness depends on the coherent integration of sensory information. In addition to visual and somatosensory information processing, vestibular contributions have been proposed and investigated. Vestibular information seems especially important for self-location, but remains difficult to study. Methods This randomised controlled experiment used the MIRAGE multisensory illusion box to induce a conflict between the visually- and proprioceptively-encoded position of one hand. Over time, the perceived location of the hand slowly shifts, due to the fact that proprioceptive input is progressively weighted more heavily than the visual input. We hypothesised that left cold caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) augments this shift in hand localisation. Results The results from 24 healthy participants do not support our hypothesis: CVS had no effect on the estimations with which the perceived position of the hand shifted from the visually- to the proprioceptively-encoded position. Participants were more likely to report that their hand was 'no longer there' after CVS. Taken together, neither the physical nor the subjective data provide evidence for vestibular enhanced self-location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luzia Grabherr
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Psychiatric Liaison Service, University Hospital of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Leslie N Russek
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Clarkson University, Physical Therapy Department, Potsdam, NY, USA
| | - Valeria Bellan
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.,Department of Psychology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Mohammad Shohag
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Danny Camfferman
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - G Lorimer Moseley
- School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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22
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Unilateral vestibular deafferentation impairs embodied spatial cognition. J Neurol 2019; 266:149-159. [PMID: 31230115 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-019-09433-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
A growing number of studies indicate that cognitive complaints are common in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders. A better understanding of how vestibular disorders influence cognition in these patients requires a clear delineation of the cognitive domains affected by vestibular disorders. Here, we compared the consequences of left and right vestibular neurectomy on third-person perspective taking-a visuo-spatial task requiring mainly own-body mental imagery, and on 3D objects mental rotation imagery-requiring object-based mental imagery, but no perspective taking. Patients tested 1 week after a unilateral vestibular neurectomy and a group of age- and gender-matched healthy participants played a virtual ball-tossing game from their own first-person perspective (1PP) and from the perspective of a distant avatar (third-person perspective, 3PP). Results showed larger response times in the patients with respect to their controls for the 3PP taking task, but not for the 1PP task and the 3D objects mental imagery. In addition, we found that only patients with left vestibular neurectomy presented altered 3PP taking abilities when compared to their controls. This study suggests that unilateral vestibular loss affects mainly own-body mental transformation and that only left vestibular loss seems to impair this cognitive process. Our study also brings further evidence that vestibular signals contribute to the sensorimotor bases of social cognition and strengthens the connections between the so far distinct fields of social neuroscience and human vestibular physiology.
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23
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Thür C, Roel Lesur M, Bockisch CJ, Lopez C, Lenggenhager B. The Tilted Self: Visuo-Graviceptive Mismatch in the Full-Body Illusion. Front Neurol 2019; 10:436. [PMID: 31133959 PMCID: PMC6517513 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The bodily self is a fundamental part of human self-consciousness and relies on online multimodal information and prior beliefs about one's own body. While the contribution of the vestibular system in this process remains under-investigated, it has been theorized to be important. The present experiment investigates the influence of conflicting gravity-related visual and bodily information on the sense of a body and, vice versa, the influence of altered embodiment on verticality and own-body orientation perception. In a full-body illusion setup, participants saw in a head-mounted display a projection of their own body 2 m in front of them, on which they saw a tactile stimulation on their back displayed either synchronously or asynchronously. By tilting the seen body to one side, an additional visuo-graviceptive conflict about the body orientation was created. Self-identification with the seen body was measured explicitly with a questionnaire and implicitly with skin temperature. As measures of orientation with respect to gravity, we assessed subjective haptic vertical and the haptic body orientation. Finally, we measured the individual visual field dependence using the rod-and-frame test. The results show a decrease in self-identification during the additional visuo-graviceptive conflict, but no modulation of perceived verticality or subjective body orientation. Furthermore, explorative analyses suggest a stimulation-dependent modulation of the perceived body orientation in individuals with a strong visual field dependence only. The results suggest a mutual interaction of graviceptive and other sensory signals and the individual's weighting style in defining our sense of a bodily self.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Thür
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marte Roel Lesur
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christopher J. Bockisch
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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24
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Nesti A, Rognini G, Herbelin B, Bülthoff HH, Chuang L, Blanke O. Modulation of vection latencies in the full-body illusion. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0209189. [PMID: 30562381 PMCID: PMC6298644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0209189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Current neuroscientific models of bodily self-consciousness (BSC) argue that inaccurate integration of sensory signals leads to altered states of BSC. Indeed, using virtual reality technology, observers viewing a fake or virtual body while being exposed to tactile stimulation of the real body, can experience illusory ownership over-and mislocalization towards-the virtual body (Full-Body Illusion, FBI). Among the sensory inputs contributing to BSC, the vestibular system is believed to play a central role due to its importance in estimating self-motion and orientation. This theory is supported by clinical evidence that vestibular loss patients are more prone to altered BSC states, and by recent experimental evidence that visuo-vestibular conflicts can disrupt BSC in healthy individuals. Nevertheless, the contribution of vestibular information and self-motion perception to BSC remains largely unexplored. Here, we investigate the relationship between alterations of BSC and self-motion sensitivity in healthy individuals. Fifteen participants were exposed to visuo-vibrotactile conflicts designed to induce an FBI, and subsequently to visual rotations that evoked illusory self-motion (vection). We found that synchronous visuo-vibrotactile stimulation successfully induced the FBI, and further observed a relationship between the strength of the FBI and the time necessary for complete vection to arise. Specifically, higher self-reported FBI scores across synchronous and asynchronous conditions were associated to shorter vection latencies. Our findings are in agreement with clinical observations that vestibular loss patients have higher FBI susceptibility and lower vection latencies, and argue for increased visual over vestibular dependency during altered states of BSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Nesti
- Department of Human Perception, Cognition and Action, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (AN); (OB)
| | - Giulio Rognini
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Herbelin
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Heinrich H. Bülthoff
- Department of Human Perception, Cognition and Action, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lewis Chuang
- Department of Human Perception, Cognition and Action, Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Olaf Blanke
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain Mind Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Geneva, Switzerland
- * E-mail: (AN); (OB)
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25
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Milne E, Dunn S, Zhao C, Jones M. Altered neural dynamics in people who report spontaneous out of body experiences. Cortex 2018; 111:87-99. [PMID: 30472385 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2018.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 09/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
It has been suggested that individual differences in cortical excitability leading to disruption of the timing and integration of sensory information processing may explain why some people have out of body experiences (OBE) in the absence of any known pathological or psychiatric condition. Here we recorded EEG from people who either had, or had not experienced an OBE in order to investigate the neural dynamics of OBE in the non-clinical population. A screening questionnaire was completed by 551 people, 24% of whom reported having at least one OBE. Participants who were free of any psychiatric or neurological diagnoses, including migraines, were invited to take part in subsequent EEG recording. EEG data were obtained from 19 people who had had an OBE and 20 who had not. Amplitude of the visual P1 ERP deflection and consistency of alpha-band phase locking were significantly reduced in the participants who had had an OBE. We did not find any group differences in resting state power or in visually induced gamma oscillations. These results provide support for the claim that cortical differences, particularly with respect to the timing of visual information processing, may give rise to OBE in clinically healthy individuals. To our knowledge, this study is the first to compare EEG variables obtained from people who have, and have not, had an OBE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Milne
- Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
| | - Stephanie Dunn
- Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Chen Zhao
- Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Myles Jones
- Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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Beh SC, Masrour S, Smith SV, Friedman DI. Clinical characteristics of Alice in Wonderland syndrome in a cohort with vestibular migraine. Neurol Clin Pract 2018; 8:389-396. [PMID: 30564492 PMCID: PMC6276353 DOI: 10.1212/cpj.0000000000000518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) is a rare sensory perception disorder, most often caused by migraine in adults. We aimed to characterize the clinical characteristics of AIWS in a cohort of vestibular migraine (VM) patients. METHODS Retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with VM seen between August 2014 and January 2018. RESULTS Seventeen patients were identified (10 women) with a median age at onset of 45 years (range 15-61 years), and median age at presentation of 49 years (range 17-63 years). Eighty-two percent reported 1 AIWS symptom, 12% reported 3 symptoms, and 6% described 2 symptoms. The most common symptom was visual distortions (47%), followed by extrapersonal misperceptions (41%) and somesthetic distortions (29%). Most AIWS occurred during VM episodes (77%). Eleven patients were seen in follow-up; 10 described complete or partial resolution of both AIWS and VM with migraine preventive therapy, while 1 experienced complete resolution of VM but continued to have AIWS. Neuro-otologic abnormalities improved in 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS This study characterizes the clinical features of AIWS in patients with VM. We observed several rare and highly unusual AIWS misperceptions (frosted-glass vision, underwater vision, dolly zoom effect, sensation of the brain coming out of the head, closed-eye visual hallucinations, and headlight glare-induced marco/microsomatognosia), and resolution or improvement in AIWS and VM with migraine preventive treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin C Beh
- Departments of Neurology (SCB, SM, DIF) and Ophthalmology (DIF), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Department of Neurology (SVS), Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX
| | - Shamin Masrour
- Departments of Neurology (SCB, SM, DIF) and Ophthalmology (DIF), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Department of Neurology (SVS), Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX
| | - Stacy V Smith
- Departments of Neurology (SCB, SM, DIF) and Ophthalmology (DIF), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Department of Neurology (SVS), Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX
| | - Deborah I Friedman
- Departments of Neurology (SCB, SM, DIF) and Ophthalmology (DIF), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Department of Neurology (SVS), Houston Methodist Neurological Institute, TX
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Hitier M, Sato G, Zhang YF, Zheng Y, Besnard S, Smith PF. Vestibular-related eye movements in the rat following selective electrical stimulation of the vestibular sensors. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2018; 204:835-847. [DOI: 10.1007/s00359-018-1286-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
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Dijkerman C, Lenggenhager B. The body and cognition: The relation between body representations and higher level cognitive and social processes. Cortex 2018; 104:133-139. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Lopez C, Nakul E, Preuss N, Elzière M, Mast FW. Distorted own-body representations in patients with dizziness and during caloric vestibular stimulation. J Neurol 2018; 265:86-94. [PMID: 29876763 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-018-8906-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that vestibular disorders evoke deficits reaching far beyond imbalance, oscillopsia and spatial cognition. Yet, how vestibular disorders affect own-body representations, in particular the perceived body shape and size, has been overlooked. Here, we explored vestibular contributions to own-body representations using two approaches. Study 1 measured the occurrence and severity of distorted own-body representations in 60 patients with dizziness and 60 healthy controls using six items from the Cambridge Depersonalization Scale. 12% of the patients have experienced distorted own-body representations (their hands or feet felt larger or smaller), 37% reported abnormal sense of agency, 35% reported disownership for the body, and 22% reported disembodiment. These proportions were larger in patients than controls. Study 2 aimed at testing whether artificial stimulation of the vestibular apparatus produced comparable distortions of own-body representations in healthy volunteers. We compared the effects of right-warm/left-cold caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS), left-warm/right-cold CVS and sham CVS on internal models of the left and right hands using a pointing task. The perceived length of the dorsum of the hand was increased specifically during left-warm/right-cold CVS, and this effect was found for both hands. Our studies show a vestibular contribution to own-body representations and should help understand the complex symptomatology of patients with dizziness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christophe Lopez
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, LNSC, Marseille, France. .,Laboratoire de Neurosciences Sensorielles et Cognitives-UMR 7260, Aix Marseille Univ and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre Saint-Charles, Fédération de Recherche 3C-Case B, 3, Place Victor Hugo, 13331, Marseille Cedex 03, France.
| | | | - Nora Preuss
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maya Elzière
- Centre des Vertiges, Hôpital Européen, Marseille, France
| | - Fred W Mast
- Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Illusions de sortie de corps dans les pathologies vestibulaires. Étude prospective chez 210 patients consultant pour des troubles de l’équilibre et des vertiges. Neurophysiol Clin 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neucli.2017.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Nakul E, Lopez C. Commentary: Out-of-Body Experience during Awake Craniotomy. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:417. [PMID: 28871221 PMCID: PMC5566977 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Estelle Nakul
- Centre National de la Recherhe Scientifique (LNIA, FR3C), Aix-Marseille UniversitéMarseille, France
| | - Christophe Lopez
- Centre National de la Recherhe Scientifique (LNIA, FR3C), Aix-Marseille UniversitéMarseille, France
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