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Abra Y, Mirams L, Fairhurst MT. The space between us: The effect of perceived threat on discomfort distance and perceived pleasantness of interpersonal vicarious touch. Heliyon 2024; 10:e36487. [PMID: 39262966 PMCID: PMC11388568 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e36487] [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: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The space we keep between ourselves and others allows us either to engage in close shared experiences or to distance ourselves for safety. Focusing primarily on the latter, previous studies have identified a link between interpersonal boundaries and perceived threat, perceptual discrimination including pain perception as well as how we move and behave as a result. Although interpersonal distancing has been studied in a range of contexts, a mechanistic way of how such spatial behaviour might alter how we perceive affective touch has yet to be investigated. Here we probe the effect of perceived threat of COVID-19 on interpersonal boundary preferences and perceived pleasantness of vicarious affective touch. Our results demonstrate that increased perceived threat from COVID-19 is associated with larger boundaries of discomfort distance. Moreover, we show a positive association between perceived threat and pleasantness of vicarious touch coming from a member of the household, but no association with outsider touch. Importantly, rather than focusing on the purely "positive" and prosocial functions of affective touch, these results bolster a novel perspective that socially-relevant cues guide both approach and avoidance behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasemin Abra
- Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI), 6G life, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Laura Mirams
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Merle T Fairhurst
- Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI), 6G life, Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Cerasa A, Gaggioli A, Pioggia G, Riva G. Metaverse in Mental Health: The Beginning of a Long History. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2024; 26:294-303. [PMID: 38602624 PMCID: PMC11147936 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-024-01501-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We review the first pilot studies applying metaverse-related technologies in psychiatric patients and discuss the rationale for using this complex federation of technologies to treat mental diseases. Concerning previous virtual-reality applications in medical care, metaverse technologies provide the unique opportunity to define, control, and shape virtual scenarios shared by multi-users to exploit the "synchronized brains" potential exacerbated by social interactions. RECENT FINDINGS The application of an avatar-based sexual therapy program conducted on a metaverse platform has been demonstrated to be more effective concerning traditional sexual coaching for treating female orgasm disorders. Again, a metaverse-based social skills training program has been tested on children with autism spectrum disorders, demonstrating a significant impact on social interaction abilities. Metaverse-related technologies could enable us to develop new reliable approaches for treating diseases where behavioral symptoms can be addressed using socio-attentive tasks and social-interaction strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Cerasa
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, IRIB-CNR, 98164, Messina, Italy.
- S. Anna Institute, 88900, Crotone, Italy.
- Pharmacotechnology Documentation and Transfer Unit, Preclinical and Translational Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Health Science and Nutrition, University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata, Italy.
| | - Andrea Gaggioli
- Research Center in Communication Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Pioggia
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, IRIB-CNR, 98164, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Riva
- Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
- Humane Technology Lab, Catholic University of Milan, Largo Gemelli 1, 20123, Milan, Italy.
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Montano-Murillo R, Pittera D, Frier W, Georgiou O, Obrist M, Cornelio P. It Sounds Cool: Exploring Sonification of Mid-Air Haptic Textures Exploration on Texture Judgments, Body Perception, and Motor Behaviour. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON HAPTICS 2024; 17:237-248. [PMID: 37831581 DOI: 10.1109/toh.2023.3320492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Ultrasonic mid-air haptic technology allows for the perceptual rendering of textured surfaces onto the user's hand. Unlike real textured surfaces, however, mid-air haptic feedback lacks implicit multisensory cues needed to reliably infer a texture's attributes (e.g., its roughness). In this article, we combined mid-air haptic textures with congruent sound feedback to investigate how sonification could influence people's 1) explicit judgment of the texture attributes, 2) explicit sensations of their own hand, and 3) implicit motor behavior during haptic exploration. Our results showed that audio cues (presented solely or combined with haptics) influenced participants' judgment of the texture attributes (roughness, hardness, moisture and viscosity), produced some hand sensations (the feeling of having a hand smoother, softer, looser, more flexible, colder, wetter and more natural), and changed participants' speed (moving faster or slower) while exploring the texture. We then conducted a principal component analysis to better understand and visualize the found results and conclude with a short discussion on how audio-haptic associations can be used to create embodied experiences in emerging application scenarios in the metaverse.
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Möllmann A, Heinrichs N, Herwig A. A conceptual framework on body representations and their relevance for mental disorders. Front Psychol 2024; 14:1231640. [PMID: 38250111 PMCID: PMC10796836 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1231640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Many mental disorders are accompanied by distortions in the way the own body is perceived and represented (e.g., eating disorders, body dysmorphic disorder including muscle dysmorphia, or body integrity dysphoria). We are interested in the way these distortions develop and aim at better understanding their role in mental health across the lifespan. For this purpose, we first propose a conceptual framework of body representation that defines this construct and integrates different perspectives (e.g., cognitive neuroscience, clinical psychology) on body representations. The framework consists of a structural and a process model of body representation emphasizing different goals: the structural model aims to support researchers from different disciplines to structure results from studies and help collectively accumulate knowledge about body representations and their role in mental disorders. The process model is reflecting the dynamics during the information processing of body-related stimuli. It aims to serve as a motor for (experimental) study development on how distorted body representations emerge and might be changed. Second, we use this framework to review the normative development of body representations as well as the development of mental disorders that relate to body representations with the aim to further clarify the potential transdiagnostic role of body representations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Möllmann
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Sports Science, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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Fairhurst MT, Tajadura-Jiménez A, Keller PE, Deroy O. You, me, and us: Maintaining self-other distinction enhances coordination, agency, and affect. iScience 2023; 26:108253. [PMID: 38025777 PMCID: PMC10679890 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Coordinating our actions with others changes how we behave and feel. Here, we provide evidence that interacting with others rests on a balance between self-other integration and segregation. Using a group walking paradigm, participants were instructed to synchronize with a metronome while listening to the sounds of 8 virtual partners. By manipulating the similarity and synchronicity of the partners' steps to the participant's own, our novel auditory task disentangles the effects of synchrony and self-other similarity and examines their contribution to both collective and individual awareness. We measured temporal coordination (step timing regularity and synchrony with the metronome), gait patterns, and subjective reports about sense of self and group cohesion. The main findings show that coordination is best when participants hear distinct but synchronous virtual others, leading to greater subjective feelings of agency, strength, dominance, and happiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merle T. Fairhurst
- Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop (CeTI), Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Munich Centre for Neuroscience, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Ana Tajadura-Jiménez
- i_mBODY Lab, DEI Interactive Systems Group, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Spain
- UCL Interaction Centre (UCLIC), University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter E. Keller
- The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia
- Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University & The Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ophelia Deroy
- Munich Centre for Neuroscience, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
- Faculty of Philosophy, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Philosophy, School of Advanced Study, University of London, London, United Kingdom
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Brizzi G, Sansoni M, Di Lernia D, Frisone F, Tuena C, Riva G. The multisensory mind: a systematic review of multisensory integration processing in Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa. J Eat Disord 2023; 11:204. [PMID: 37974266 PMCID: PMC10655389 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00930-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Individuals with Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa present alterations in the way they experience their bodies. Body experience results from a multisensory integration process in which information from different sensory domains and spatial reference frames is combined into a coherent percept. Given the critical role of the body in the onset and maintenance of both Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa, we conducted a systematic review to examine multisensory integration abilities of individuals affected by these two conditions and investigate whether they exhibit impairments in crossmodal integration. We searched for studies evaluating crossmodal integration in individuals with a current diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa as compared to healthy individuals from both behavioral and neurobiological perspectives. A search of PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Sciences databases was performed to extract relevant articles. Of the 2348 studies retrieved, 911 were unique articles. After the screening, 13 articles were included. Studies revealed multisensory integration abnormalities in patients affected by Anorexia Nervosa; only one included individuals with Bulimia Nervosa and observed less severe impairments compared to healthy controls. Overall, results seemed to support the presence of multisensory deficits in Anorexia Nervosa, especially when integrating interoceptive and exteroceptive information. We proposed the Predictive Coding framework for understanding our findings and suggested future lines of investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Brizzi
- Applied Technology for Neuro- Psychology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Magnasco 2, 20149, Milan, Italy.
| | - Maria Sansoni
- Humane Technology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli, 1, 20121, Milan, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli, 1, 20121, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Di Lernia
- Applied Technology for Neuro- Psychology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Magnasco 2, 20149, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Frisone
- Humane Technology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli, 1, 20121, Milan, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli, 1, 20121, Milan, Italy
| | - Cosimo Tuena
- Applied Technology for Neuro- Psychology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Magnasco 2, 20149, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Riva
- Applied Technology for Neuro- Psychology Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Via Magnasco 2, 20149, Milan, Italy
- Humane Technology Laboratory, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Gemelli, 1, 20121, Milan, Italy
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Overgaard M, Preston C, Aspell J. The self, its body and its brain. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12761. [PMID: 37550400 PMCID: PMC10406811 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39959-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Morten Overgaard
- CFIN, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | | | - Jane Aspell
- School of Psychology and Sport Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
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Navas-León S, Morales Márquez L, Sánchez-Martín M, Crucianelli L, Bianchi-Berthouze N, Borda-Mas M, Tajadura-Jiménez A. Exploring multisensory integration of non-naturalistic sounds on body perception in young females with eating disorders symptomatology: a study protocol. J Eat Disord 2023; 11:28. [PMID: 36849992 PMCID: PMC9969697 DOI: 10.1186/s40337-023-00749-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bodily illusions can be used to investigate the experience of being in a body by manipulating the underlying processes of multisensory integration. Research suggests that people with eating disorders (EDs) may have impairments in visual, interoceptive, proprioceptive, and tactile bodily perception. Furthermore, people with EDs also show abnormalities in integrating multisensory visuo-tactile and visual-auditory signals related to the body, which may contribute to the development of body image disturbances. Visuo-auditory integration abnormalities have been observed also in people with subthreshold ED symptomatology. However, it remains unclear whether these impairments are specific to bodily signals or if they extend to any auditory signals. METHODS We will recruit 50 participants (aged 18-24; females assigned at birth) with ED symptomatology (subthreshold group) and 50 control participants. The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire will be administered to screen for ED symptomatology and divide the sample into two groups accordingly (control and subthreshold group using a clinical cut-off score of 2.8). The strength of both illusions will be measured implicitly with estimations of body part position and size, and explicitly with self-report questionnaires. As a secondary aim, regression analysis will be run to test the predictive role of susceptibility for both illusions on interoceptive body awareness (measured by the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness Scale) and sensory-processing sensitivity (measured by the Highly Sensitive Person Scale). DISCUSSION Our study may contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying body image disturbances. The results may pave the way for novel clinical interventions targeting early symptoms prior to the development of the disorder in young females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Navas-León
- Department of Psychology, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, Dos Hermanas, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ana Tajadura-Jiménez
- UCL Interaction Centre, University College London, London, UK. .,i_mBODY lab, DEI Interactive Systems Group, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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