Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when trauma or other factors damage the spinal cord, disrupting the flow of sensory information from the body to the brain. This interruption can interfere with embodiment-the body awareness and physical sensations processed by the brain-sometimes leading to a phenomenon called disembodiment. For people with SCI, disembodiment may appear as unusual body sensations, like feeling that a limb is in a different position than it actually is. Such changes in body awareness can impact daily life, mental health, and rehabilitation outcomes. Despite its importance, the study of embodiment in SCI remains limited. This project aims to explore how SCI alters embodiment, focusing on its specific characteristics, the effects on daily life, and the underlying brain activity as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Both people with and without SCI will participate. Procedure: Participants will complete a single examination lasting 2 to 2.5 hours, including approximately 55 minutes in the MRI scanner (with preparation and follow-up).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
80
A comprehensive behavioral assessment of embodiment and its effect on daily living, taking into account pain, interoception, emotions and anxiety, sleep quality, life satsfaction and cognition.
Neural mechanisms of embodiments will be explored with MRI sequences including structural MRI, resting-state and task-based fMRI of the head. The task will be a modified version of the rubber hand illusion, previously used to asess embodiment. Participants will be required to lay in the MRI with their legs bended upright and a screen placed at the level of their hips, which will show a pair of legs. The participant's leg will be stroked with a paintbrush while the image on the screen will be showing the virtual legs being stroked. Participants will be required to report how strongly they perceive the virtual legs as their own, as a measure of embodiment.
Swiss Paraplegic Research
Nottwil, Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland
RECRUITINGScore on the Body Feelings and Illusions questionnaire (BoFI)
A questionnaires that assess different dimensions of embodiment and disembodiment.
Time frame: Baseline
Brain activity
Brain activity defined as changes in oxygen levels in the blood during the execution of the embodiment task, and at rest.
Time frame: Baseline
Strenght of the embodiment illusion
Strenght of the embodiment illusion during the fMRI procedures, measured through a Likert scale.
Time frame: Baseline
Qualitative assessment of embodiment
Qualitative assessment of the experience of embodiment by means of a semi-structured interview.
Time frame: Baseline
Score on the WHO Disability Assessment Scale (WHODAS-II)
A scale that assesses activity limitation and participation restriction in the daily life due to disability.
Time frame: Baseline
Pain severity
Intensity of pain measured on a visual analogue scale.
Time frame: Baseline
Score on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)
A scale which measures positive and negative sensations over the course of the last week.
Time frame: Baseline
Anxiety score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
A scale the assesses the presence and the intensity of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline
Depression score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
A scale the assesses the presence and the intensity of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Time frame: Baseline
Score on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
A questionnaire assessing the quality of sleep.
Time frame: Baseline
Score on the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA)
A questionnaire assessing interoceptive awarness.
Time frame: Baseline
Score on the Inclusion of Others in the Self test (IOS)
A questionnaire assessing the relationship of the individual self with other entities (e.g., the body, the famiy, the society).
Time frame: Baseline
Score on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
A test assessing cognitive functions such as memory, attention, language, and executive functions.
Time frame: Baseline
Score on the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SLS)
A scale assessing satisfaction in life.
Time frame: Baseline
Motor symptoms severity
Motor symptoms severity (from level A to E) based on the International Standards for Neurological Classification of spinal cord injury (ISNCSCI)
Time frame: Baseline
Demographics
Demographic information such as age, sex and education level, as well as time since injury.
Time frame: Baseline
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