Clinical trial NCT05164991: Visuo-Tactile Integration and Body Ownership in the Human Brain
Official title: Visuo-Tactile Integration and Body Ownership in the Human Brain
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms
Body Representation
Lead sponsor: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich
name: Eye Hospital Jules Gonin
First posted: 2021-12-21
Enrollment: 45
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 55
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: The present project exploits brain imaging and neuroscience robotics to investigate the role of quantifiable visual input on the relationship between visuo-tactile integration and body ownership (the feeling that "this" body belongs to "me").

Detailed description: Observational study, fundamental research, multicentric, national. The analysis of questionnaires, self-reports, and brain imaging associated with the RHI is used to understand the influence of visual input on body ownership. To this aim, participants lay down in the magnetic resonance (MR) scanner (Figure 1B), are presented with visual stimuli (videos of the virtual rubber hand - visual stroking) simultaneously in real time with tactile stimuli (robotic stroking of the participant's hand - tactile stroking), and in combination or not with the measurement of autonomic arousal (GSR) associated with the observation of a video showing the virtual rubber hand in a threatening situation (e.g. a knife approaching the virtual hand - unconscious RHI effects). By means of structured questionnaires and semi-structured self-reports, participants (i) evaluate eventual sensations felt during the visuo-tactile stimulation and (ii) report the personal feelings and impressions about body ownership for the virtual rubber hand (conscious RHI effects).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* general health
* personal interest
* age between 18 and 55 years old
* fulfil standard guidelines for fMRI studies

Exclusion Criteria:

* history of seizures, epilepsy
* specific medications or treatment
* concomitant diseases (e.g. cardiopathy)
* pregnancy
* unexplained loss of consciousness
* chronic headaches
* neurological illnesses
* head concussion,
* presence of metal in the neck or head
* implanted medical devices
* drug abuse
* inability to give consent

Primary outcomes:
measure: Neuro-behavioral changes associated with vision-dependent alterations of body ownership, measured via brain activity (fMRI)
timeFrame: Through study completion, an average of 2 years
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Subjective Experience via VAS scale
timeFrame: Through study completion, an average of 2 years
measure: Automatic response (skin conductance)
timeFrame: Through study completion, an average of 2 years
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Zurich
country: Switzerland
facility: ETH Zurich, Rehabilitation Engeineering Laboratory
Study officials:
affiliation: Fondation Asile des Aveugles, 1002, Lausanne
name: Silvio Ionta, Professor
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: