Auditory Sensory Attenuation in Anorexia Nervosa

Overview

The goal of this observational cross-sectional study is to test the sensory attenuation effect with auditory stimuli comparing women affected by anorexia nervosa and healthy-weight women. Specifically, the study aims to test whether the sensory attenuation effect (i.e., the perceived loudness of a self-generated sound is weaker than when another person produces the same sound): i) is observed in anorexia nervosa ii) it can be modulated in interactive action contexts, as was previously observed in healthy participants. Participants will compare the loudness of target sound with a comparison tone, which can be prompt by the participant by pressing a button on their own will (i.e., individual context) or upon the experimenter\'s signal (i.e., interactive context); externally-generated sounds are produced in the opposite way.

The perceived loudness of a self-generated sound is generally weaker than when another person produces the same sound. This effect is known as sensory attenuation, and it is considered a proof of sense of agency (i.e., it relies on the anticipation of the sensory-motor effects of one\'s intentional action). Recently, it was suggested that this effect is enhanced in interactive action contexts in healthy individuals, meaning that sounds are produced as a consequence of cooperation between individuals. Participants will compare the loudness of target sound with a comparison tone, which could be generated in 4 different conditions: i) participants press a button ii) the experimenter press the button iii) participants press the button upon the experimenter\'s signal (i.e., who touch the participants\' arm) iv) the experimenter presses the button upon the participants\' signal (i.e., who touch the experimenter\'s arm). However, it is not clear whether the same effect of cooperation can be observed also when individuals experience difficulties in social interactions and relationships. To this purpose, the study compared the sensory attenuation effect for auditory stimuli in a traditional (i.e., individual) and interactive context, comparing women affected by anorexia nervosa with healthy-weight women. Indeed, relational difficulties and social withdrawal characterized this clinical condition.