A Comprehensive Assessment of Altered Embodiment in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury
- Conditions
- Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI)
- Registration Number
- NCT06688916
- Lead Sponsor
- Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil
- Brief Summary
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).
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- NOT_YET_RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 80
Not provided
Not provided
Study & Design
- Study Type
- OBSERVATIONAL
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Score on the Body Feelings and Illusions questionnaire (BoFI) Baseline A questionnaires that assess different dimensions of embodiment and disembodiment.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Brain activity Baseline Brain activity defined as changes in oxygen levels in the blood during the execution of the embodiment task, and at rest.
Strenght of the embodiment illusion Baseline Strenght of the embodiment illusion during the fMRI procedures, measured through a Likert scale.
Qualitative assessment of embodiment Baseline Qualitative assessment of the experience of embodiment by means of a semi-structured interview.
Score on the WHO Disability Assessment Scale (WHODAS-II) Baseline A scale that assesses activity limitation and participation restriction in the daily life due to disability.
Pain severity Baseline Intensity of pain measured on a visual analogue scale.
Score on the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) Baseline A scale which measures positive and negative sensations over the course of the last week.
Anxiety score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) Baseline A scale the assesses the presence and the intensity of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Depression score on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) Baseline A scale the assesses the presence and the intensity of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Score on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Baseline A questionnaire assessing the quality of sleep.
Score on the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) Baseline A questionnaire assessing interoceptive awarness.
Score on the Inclusion of Others in the Self test (IOS) Baseline A questionnaire assessing the relationship of the individual self with other entities (e.g., the body, the famiy, the society).
Score on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) Baseline A test assessing cognitive functions such as memory, attention, language, and executive functions.
Score on the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SLS) Baseline A scale assessing satisfaction in life.
Motor symptoms severity Baseline Motor symptoms severity (from level A to E) based on the International Standards for Neurological Classification of spinal cord injury (ISNCSCI)
Demographics Baseline Demographic information such as age, sex and education level, as well as time since injury.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Swiss Paraplegic Research
🇨🇭Nottwil, Lucerne, Switzerland