The Virtual Hand Illusion in Obesity: Dissociation Between Multisensory Interactions Supporting Illusory Experience and Self-Location Recalibration

Multisens Res. 2020 Jul 1;33(3):337-361. doi: 10.1163/22134808-20191425.

Abstract

The Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI) is used widely to investigate the multisensory integration mechanisms that support bodily self-consciousness and, more specifically, body ownership and self-location. It has been reported that individuals affected by obesity show anomalous multisensory integration processes. We propose that these obesity-induced changes could lead to an unusual susceptibility to the RHI and anomalous bodily self-experience. To test this hypothesis, we administered a modified version of the RHI (using a picture of the participant's hand) to individuals affected by obesity and participants with a healthy weight. During synchronous and asynchronous stimulation, we compared the subjective experience of the illusion (using a questionnaire) and the effect of the illusion on self-location (i.e., proprioceptive drift). In accordance with the illusion phenomenology, both groups had a comparable subjective illusory experience after the synchronous stimulation. Nevertheless, individuals affected by obesity showed less recalibration of self-location than healthy weight participants. In light of a recent interpretation of the multisensory integration mechanisms that underpin the RHI, our findings suggest that in obesity visuo-tactile integration supporting the subjective experience of the illusion is preserved, whereas visuo-proprioceptive integration for self-location is reduced.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Dissociative Disorders / etiology
  • Dissociative Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Emotions / physiology
  • Female
  • Hand / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Illusions / physiology*
  • Male
  • Obesity / complications
  • Obesity / physiopathology*
  • Proprioception / physiology*
  • Touch Perception / physiology*
  • Visual Perception / physiology*