How do you feel when you can’t feel your body? Interoception, functional connectivity and emotional processing in depersonalization-derealization disorder
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Show full item recordAuthor/s:
Sedeño, Lucas
Couto, Blas
Melloni, Margherita
Canales-Johnson, Andrés
Yoris, Adrian
Baez, Sandra
Esteves, Sol
Velasquez, Marcela
Barttfeld, Pablo
Sigman, Mariano
Kichic, Rafael
Chialvo, Dante
Manes, Facundo
Bekinschtein, Tristan A.
Ibáñez, Agustín
Date:
2014-06-26Abstract
Depersonalization-Derealization Disorder (DD) typically manifests as a disruption of body self-awareness. Interoception 2
defined as the cognitive processing of body signals2 has been extensively considered as a key processing for body selfawareness.
In consequence, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are systematic differences in
interoception between a patient with DD and controls that might explain the disembodiment symptoms suffered in this
disease. To assess interoception, we utilized a heartbeat detection task and measures of functional connectivity derived
from fMRI networks in interoceptive/exteroceptivo/mind-wandering states. Additionally, we evaluated empathic abilities to
test the association between interoception and emotional experience. The results showed patient’s impaired performance
in the heartbeat detection task when compared to controls. Furthermore, regarding functional connectivity, we found a
lower global brain connectivity of the patient relative to controls only in the interoceptive state. He also presented a
particular pattern of impairments in affective empathy. To our knowledge, this is the first experimental research that
assesses the relationship between interoception and DD combining behavioral and neurobiological measures. Our results
suggest that altered neural mechanisms and cognitive processes regarding body signaling might be engaged in DD
phenomenology. Moreover, our study contributes experimental data to the comprehension of brain-body interactions and
the emergence of self-awareness and emotional feelings.
URI:
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0098769https://repositorio.utdt.edu/handle/20.500.13098/11076