Visuo-Tactile Integration and Body Ownership in the Human Brain

NCT05164991 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2021-0111
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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").

Conditions

Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms; Body Representation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Neuro-behavioral changes associated with vision-dependent alterations of body ownership, measured via brain activity (fMRI)

  Analysis of objective measures of the RHI

  Through study completion, an average of 2 years

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Subjective Experience via VAS scale

  Through study completion, an average of 2 years

• Automatic response (skin conductance)

  Through study completion, an average of 2 years

Study Arms (1)

MR imaging

EXPERIMENTAL

The experiment is aimed to induce a virtual rubber hand illusion, in which the individuals can potentially experience an embodiment illusion

Behavioral: Visuo-tactile stimulations of the right hand

Interventions

Visuo-tactile stimulations of the right hand BEHAVIORAL

Participants lay down in the magnetic resonance (MR) scanner 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). An MR-compatible robot systematically provides the tactile stroking on the participant's hand. MR-compatible goggles show the visual stroking. Patterns of long and short robotic movements will be provided.

MR imaging

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

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

You may not qualify if:

• 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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology: lead
• Psychiatric University Hospital, Zurich: collaborator
• Eye Hospital Jules Gonin: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

ETH Zurich, Rehabilitation Engeineering Laboratory

Zurich, 8008, Switzerland

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Behavior

Study Officials

• Silvio Ionta, Professor

  Fondation Asile des Aveugles, 1002, Lausanne

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 29, 2021
• First Posted: December 21, 2021
• Study Start: January 10, 2022
• Primary Completion: September 1, 2023
• Study Completion: September 12, 2023
• Last Updated: September 13, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-09

Locations

CH (1)