Homeothermic Self · Behavioural, psychophysiological and neuroimaging investigations on the role of temperature perception in body ownership

Behavioural, psychophysiological and neuroimaging investigations on the role of temperature perception in body ownership

We usually take the ability to identify our body as our own for granted, but empirical research in the past few decades has shown that the sense of body ownership relies on our cognitive ability to combine information about the body originating from different sensory modalities. Recent studies have also suggested that homeostatically relevant somatosensory information might receive stronger weights in the process of multisensory integration than homeostatically less relevant information. That is, body representations are possibly coupled to fundamental homeostatic mechanisms, such as thermoregulation. However, little is known about the contribution of peripheral thermosensation to the awareness of our body as our own (i.e., sense of body ownership), which represents a fundamental aspect of the psychological self. Homeothermic Self has successfully addressed this outstanding question. By embracing a multidisciplinary approach, the present MSCA project successfully investigated for the first time the behavioural, psychophysiological, and neural mechanisms underlying the integration of thermal interoceptive and exteroceptive signals. The project had three main objectives: 1. to elucidate the role of visuo-thermal, interoceptive congruency to the sense of body ownership. The results showed for the first time that thermal signals are important to the way we become aware of our body as our own. 2. to investigate the role of thermal signals on body ownership over and above tactile stimulation. The results showed that we can induce a contactless RHI, by selectively activating thermal skin receptors. 3. to identify the neural network responsible for the integration of interoceptive and exteroceptive signals in relation to body ownership. Data collection supporting this objective has been completed and data analysis is ongoing. Thermoregulation is an evolutionary requirement for our survival, and it is not surprising that our sense of body ownership could be coupled to fundamental interoceptive mechanisms of thermosensation. To experience a coherent and unitary sense of self, what we feel and what we see on our skin should match at any given time, and any incongruency should be resolved. The findings of Homeothermic Self might pave the way for a better understanding of disorders of body awareness associated with temperature dysregulation, such as body disownership following right-hemisphere stroke and eating disorders.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз