Tactile and vestibular mechanisms underlying ownership for body parts: A non-visual variant of the rubber hand illusion.
Summary of "Tactile and vestibular mechanisms underlying ownership for body parts: A non-visual variant of the rubber hand illusion."
Ownership for body parts depends on multisensory integration of visual, tactile and proprioceptive signals. In a previous study, we demonstrated that vestibular signals also contribute to ownership for body parts, since vestibular stimulation increased illusory ownership for a rubber hand. However, it remained an open question whether the vestibular information acts on the visual or on the tactile input. Here, we used a non-visual variant of the rubber hand illusion, manipulating the synchrony between tactile signals from the participant's left and right hand. The results revealed a strong illusory ownership through self-reports (questionnaires) and proprioceptive drift measures. Interestingly, however, there was no influence of vestibular stimulation on illusory ownership and the proprioceptive drift. The present data suggest that vestibular signals do not interfere with the tactile-proprioceptive mechanisms underlying ownership for body parts when visual feedback from the body surface is absent.
Affiliation
Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Laboratoire de Neurosciences Intégratives et Adaptatives, UMR 7260, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Neuroscience letters
ISSN: 1872-7972
Pages: 120-4
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22322072
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2012.01.055
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Ear
The hearing and equilibrium system of the body. It consists of three parts: the EXTERNAL EAR, the MIDDLE EAR, and the INNER EAR. Sound waves are transmitted through this organ where vibration is transduced to nerve signals that pass through the ACOUSTIC NERVE to the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM. The inner ear also contains the vestibular organ that maintains equilibrium by transducing signals to the VESTIBULAR NERVE.
Vestibular Nerve
The vestibular part of the 8th cranial nerve (VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE). The vestibular nerve fibers arise from neurons of Scarpa's ganglion and project peripherally to vestibular hair cells and centrally to the VESTIBULAR NUCLEI of the BRAIN STEM. These fibers mediate the sense of balance and head position.
Vestibular Nucleus, Lateral
Vestibular nucleus lying immediately superior to the inferior vestibular nucleus and composed of large multipolar nerve cells. Its upper end becomes continuous with the superior vestibular nucleus. (From Dorland, 28th ed)
Vestibular Diseases
Pathological processes of the VESTIBULAR LABYRINTH which contains part of the balancing apparatus. Patients with vestibular diseases show instability and are at risk of frequent falls.
Body Modification, Non-therapeutic
The wounding of the body or body parts by branding, cutting, piercing (BODY PIERCING), or TATTOOING as a cultural practice or expression of creativity or identity.
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