Neural Mechanisms of Tactile Priming on Social Perceptions - Pilot Study
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Sponsor
- Charite University, Berlin, Germany
- Enrollment
- 17
- Locations
- 3
- Primary Endpoint
- Sensorimotor brain activation
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 9 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The investigators measure brain responses of healthy participants while they perform evaluation tasks inside the fMRI. For each task the participants were primed with tactile stimuli. Results should demonstrate engagement of sensorimotor brain regions after priming, hence confirming embodiment theories.
Detailed Description
Brain responses of healthy participants were recorded with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). While being scanned participants were asked to recommend punishments similar to judges or juries for perpetrators across different scenarios. In addition, participants were primed before reading the scenario by using different materials. Based on recent theories about "embodied cognition" and extralegal factors investigators hypothesize that those primes may influence the harshness of punishments recommended by the participants. If those processes engage sensorimotor cortices, the results would strongly support theories of embodied cognition. The results would help the investigators to understand the neural correlates of priming processes. These unconscious complex processes of perception may be important for hospital patients. Thus, beneficial haptic experiences during the hospital stay may contribute to successful recovery.
Investigators
Claudia Spies
Head of Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine CVK/CCM
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •male or female healthy participants
- •age 18 - 40 years
Exclusion Criteria
- •cardiac pacemaker
- •metallic implants
- •ferromagnetic parts in / at the body
- •vessel surgery
- •epilepsia
- •claustrophobia
- •pregnancy
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Sensorimotor brain activation
Time Frame: The participantes will be followed up for the duration of fMRI-scan, an exspected average of 1 hour
The primary objective of this study is to examine neural correlates for embodied cognitions. We use an fMRI-approach to test if healthy participants are prone to non-conscious tactile priming effects during evaluation processes. Investigators measure the outcome by examining BOLD Response in the sensorimotor cortices (Maximum Peak in Primary somatosensory Cortex, SI). BOLD Responses will be analyzed using the Software SPM 8.
Secondary Outcomes
- Systematic changes for evaluation processes(The participants will be followed up for the duration of fMRI-scan, an exspected average of 1 hour)