Thoughts and sensations, twin galaxies of the inner space: The propensity to mind-wander relates to spontaneous sensations arising on the hands

Michael, George A.; Tapiero, Isabelle; Gálvez‐García, Germán; Jacquot, Laurence

doi:10.1016/j.concog.2017.08.007

Cited by 18 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…From a rs-fc perspective, the operculo-insular region as part of the temporo-parietal junction is closely connected to the salience network (Kucyi, Hodaie, & Davis, 2012), but also plays a role in embodiment and self-awareness (Michael, Tapiero, Gálvez-García, & Jacquot, 2017). As such, it makes sense that the operculo-insular region does not only play a fundamental role in pain perception in terms of nociceptive processing, but also serves a central hub integrating the information from various brain sites enabling the emergence of pain from nociception.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Network properties and regional brain morphology of the insular cortex correlate with individual pain thresholds

Neumann

Wulms

Witte

et al. 2021

Human Brain Mapping

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Pain thresholds vary considerably across individuals and are influenced by a number of behavioral, genetic and neurobiological factors. However, the neurobiological underpinnings that account for individual differences remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and graph theory, specifically the local clustering coefficient (CC) based on resting-state connectivity, to identify brain regions, where regional gray matter volume and network properties predicted individual pain thresholds. As a main finding, we identified a cluster in the left posterior insular cortex (IC) reaching into the left parietal operculum, including the secondary somatosensory cortex, where both regional gray matter volume and the local CC correlated with individual pain thresholds. We also performed a resting-state functional connectivity analysis using the left posterior IC as seed region, demonstrating that connectivity to the pre-as well as postcentral gyrus bilaterally; that is, to the motor and primary sensory cortices were correlated with individual pain thresholds.To our knowledge, this is the first study that applied VBM in combination with voxelbased graph theory in the context of pain thresholds. The co-location of the VBM and the local CC cluster provide first evidence that both structure and function map to the same brain region while being correlated with the same behavioral measure; that is, pain thresholds. The study highlights the importance of the posterior IC, not only for pain perception in general, but also for the determination of individual pain thresholds.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Network properties and regional brain morphology of the insular cortex correlate with individual pain thresholds

Neumann

Wulms

Witte

et al. 2021

Human Brain Mapping

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“…To our knowledge, along with interoception, the perception of SPS is a domain that seems related to that aspect of embodiment that is the direct and immediate experience of our own body in the first-person perspective. The difference between interoception and SPS perception is that the former targets the monitoring of internal bodily signals (Vaitl, 1996) while the latter expands to feeling one's own body and its boundaries (Naveteur et al, 2015;Michael et al, 2017). However, both are encompassed by the broader definition of interoception [(Bud) Craig, 2003] and are seemingly related phenomena (Michael et al, 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, both are encompassed by the broader definition of interoception [(Bud) Craig, 2003] and are seemingly related phenomena (Michael et al, 2015). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the perception of SPS and embodiment, since the literature provides mostly indirect evidence of this (Michael and Naveteur, 2011;Bauer et al, 2014b;Michael et al, 2017). This was achieved by combining an SPS perception task, an experimental ownbody mental transformation task (OBT task), and a questionnaire assessing schizotypal personality traits.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Power analyses were conducted on the effect size of the proximo-distal gradient in frequency of SPS, which is their standard characteristic. Based on 8 published studies (Michael and Naveteur, 2011;Michael et al, 2012Michael et al, , 2015Michael et al, , 2017Beaudoin and Michael, 2014;Borg et al, 2015;Echalier et al, 2020;Salgues et al, 2021) carried out on 367 participants (10 experiments and 1206 hand maps), the weighted mean affect size expressed as Cohen's w is 0.38 (i.e., medium to large) and expressed as Cramér's V is 0.20 (i.e., medium to large). Provided a power of 90% to detect a medium effect size, the number of hand maps needed is 99.…”

Section: Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…That SPS may constitute the ever-present background of bodily sensations through which body representations arise (Kinsbourne, 1998) suggests that their perception gives cues as to the position of body parts at a given moment, their spatial boundaries and limits, and that they therefore contribute to the sense of self (Michael et al, 2017;Sakson-Obada et al, 2018). The relationship between SPS and neurocognitive body-related processes has been established by means of several forms of evidence.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Feeling Oneself Requires Embodiment: Insights From the Relationship Between Own-Body Transformations, Schizotypal Personality Traits, and Spontaneous Bodily Sensations

et al. 2020

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Subtle bodily sensations such as itching or fluttering that occur in the absence of any external trigger (i.e., spontaneous sensations, or SPS) may serve to locate the spatial boundaries of the body. They may constitute the normal counterpart of extreme conditions in which body-related hallucinations and perceptual aberrations are experienced. Previous investigations have suggested that situations in which the body is spontaneously experienced as being deformed are related to the ability to perform own-body transformations, i.e., mental rotations of the body requiring disembodiment. We therefore decided to consider whether the perception of SPS might relate to embodiment as assessed through (i) the ability to perform own-body transformations (OBT task) and (ii) schizotypal traits (Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire, or SPQ), since high degrees of schizotypy in the general population have been associated with more vivid perceptions and aberrant perceptual experiences. Then participants completed a standard SPS task. Our analysis revealed that the slower the response time in the OBT task, the more frequent the perception of SPS. This suggests that difficulties in disembodying and mentally transforming one’s own body facilitate feeling oneself. Furthermore, a greater number of correct responses in the OBT task was associated with less frequent perception of SPS. This suggests that finding it easier to disembody and perform mental own-body transformations interferes with the ability to sense oneself. The results also show that higher schizotypal traits, as assessed through the SPQ, are associated with more frequent perception of SPS. Taken together, these results provide a coherent picture and suggest that embodiment is required in order to correctly feel oneself, as expressed through the perception of SPS. The ability to easily experience disembodiment reduces the sense of feeling oneself, and proneness to schizotypal traits produces body misperceptions that enhance and amplify this feeling. The results are discussed in the light of current knowledge and theories about body representations, taking into account attention and interoception as factors that influence body awareness. We offer explanations for perceptual aberrations, body-related delusions, and hallucinations based on misperceived or misinterpreted SPS, and we discuss possible mechanisms that may contribute to feeling and misperceiving oneself.

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What Do We Perceive? Interoceptive Sensibility

Köteles

2021

Body Sensations

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Thoughts and sensations, twin galaxies of the inner space: The propensity to mind-wander relates to spontaneous sensations arising on the hands

Cited by 18 publications

References 46 publications

Network properties and regional brain morphology of the insular cortex correlate with individual pain thresholds

Network properties and regional brain morphology of the insular cortex correlate with individual pain thresholds

Feeling Oneself Requires Embodiment: Insights From the Relationship Between Own-Body Transformations, Schizotypal Personality Traits, and Spontaneous Bodily Sensations

What Do We Perceive? Interoceptive Sensibility

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