The Rubber Hand Illusion Reveals Proprioceptive and Sensorimotor Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterised by differences in unimodal and multimodal sensory and proprioceptive processing, with complex biases towards local over global processing. Many of these elements are implicated in versions of the rubber hand illusion (RHI), which were therefore studied in high-functioning individuals with ASD and a typically developing control group. Both groups experienced the illusion. A number of differences were found, related to proprioception and sensorimotor processes. The ASD group showed reduced sensitivity to visuotactile-proprioceptive discrepancy but more accurate proprioception. This group also differed on acceleration in subsequent reach trials. Results are discussed in terms of weak top-down integration and precision-accuracy trade-offs. The RHI appears to be a useful tool for investigating multisensory processing in ASD.Keywords: High-functioning autism spectrum disorder, rubber hand illusion, multimodal sensory integration, local processing bias Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Jakob Hohwy, Philosophy Department, Monash University, Building 11, Room w913, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia. E-mail: Jakob.Hohwy@monash.edu Running head: THE RUBBER HAND ILLUSION IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS AbstractAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterised by differences in unimodal and multimodal sensory

Uncomfortably numb: new evidence for suppressed emotional reactivity in response to body-threats in those predisposed to sub-clinical dissociative experiences

“…It should be noted however that the effects of changes in finger temperature are controversial both as an indicator of fear / anxiety responses (Marazziti,Di Muro & Uncomfortably Numb 32 Castrogiovanni, 1992), and in relation to the rubber-hand illusion and other body-based illusions (Hohwy & Paton, 2010;Paton et al, 2012; see also Sadibolova & Longo, 2014); which suggests a lack of reliability with such measures. Moreover, the precise biological and neuronal underpinnings of how psychological stress can regulate the areas mediating body temperature regulation are still unknown (Oka, 2015).…”

“…Research has argued that the hypothalamus and preoptic area (PO) play crucial roles in effective body temperature regulation, and a wealth of research has explored thermoregulation with respect to behaviour such as psychological reactivity to stress (Hammel, 1968;Nagashima, Nakai, Tanaka, & Kanosue, 2000;Oka, 2015;Oka, Oka & Hori, 2001). Indeed, drops in finger temperature have been associated with fear / anxiety responses (Vinkers et al, 2013), and have been demonstrated under body-illusion conditions (full body illusions: Salomon, Lim, Pfeiffer, Gassert & Blanke, 2013; the Rubber-hand illusion, RHI: Moseley et al, 2008;Kammers, Rose, & Haggard, 2011;Thakkar, Nichols, McIntosh, & Park, 2011: though see also Hohwy & Paton, 2010;Paton, Hohwy, & Enticott, 2012 for failures to replicate). This has led some researchers to suggest that such drops in temperature could also be used as a reliable index of fear processing, and that temperature regulation must therefore involve higher, top-down cognitive processing between physiological regulation of the physical self and the conscious 'self' (Moseley et al, 2008).…”

“…In addition, previous research has argued that drops in body / finger temperature can reflect a psychophysiological anxiety response (Vinkers, et al, 2013), and this has been shown for non-clinical samples in relation to body illusions (full body illusions: Salomon et al, 2013; the RHI: Moseley et al, 2008;Kammers et al, 2011;Thakkar et al, 2011: though see also Hohwy & Paton, 2010;Paton et al, 2012 for failures to replicate). Therefore, finger temperature was measured as an additional objective index of threat-related anxiety, via a separate channel on the same MP36R unit described above.…”

Context sensitivity in action decreases along the autism spectrum: a predictive processing perspective

“…Non-clinical individuals grouped by their level of autistic traits show differences in sensitivity to the presence of the RHI in reaching movements [7] (see also [33]). Specifically, individuals low in autistic features exhibit reduced smoothness of movement following the illusion compared with a control condition, while individuals high in autistic features show uniformly smooth movements across conditions.…”

Social Cognition as Causal Inference: Implications for Common Knowledge and Autism

“…This is consistent with an upregulation of bottom-up sensory estimates regarding arm position due to higher expectations for precision in sensory input compared to the control groups. Moreover, people low on ASD-like traits reach with much tentativeness and uncertainty after experiencing the illusion, which is not seen in individuals with high ASD-like traits, suggesting that the latter group expect more precision in the proprioceptive and kinestestic input they will receive as movement unfolds (Paton, Hohwy et al 2011;Palmer, Paton et al 2013). …”