Johnson Mark I, Smith Emily, Yellow Sarah, Mulvey Matthew R
Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, City Campus, Leeds LS1 3HE, United Kingdom; Leeds Pallium Research Group, United Kingdom(1).
Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Leeds Beckett University, City Campus, Leeds LS1 3HE, United Kingdom.
Scand J Pain. 2016 Apr;11:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.sjpain.2015.10.004. Epub 2015 Nov 8.
Threatening a perceptually embodied rubber hand with noxious stimuli has been shown to generate levels of anxiety similar to that experienced when a real hand is threatened. The aim of this study was to investigate skin conductance response, self-reported anxiety and the incidence, type and location of sensations when a perceptually embodied rubber hand was exposed to threatening and non-threatening stimuli.
A repeated measures cross-over design was used whereby 20 participants (≥18 years, 14 females) received a threatening (syringe needle) and non-threatening (soft brush) stimulus to a perceptually embodied rubber hand. Perceptual embodiment was achieved using a soft brush to synchronously stroke the participant's real hand (out of view) and a rubber hand (in view). Then the investigator approached the rubber hand with a syringe needle (threat) or soft brush (non-threat).
Repeated measures ANOVA found that approaching the perceptually embodied rubber hand with either stimulus produced statistically significant reductions in the rated intensity of response to the following questions (p<0.01): 'How strongly does it feel like the rubber hand is yours?'; 'How strongly does it feel like the rubber hand is part of your body?'; and 'How strongly does it feel you can move the rubber hand?'. However, there were no statistically significant differences in scores between needle and brush stimuli. Repeated measures ANOVA on skin conductance response found statistically significant effects for experimental Events (baseline; stroking; perceptual embodiment; stimuli approaching rubber hand; stimuli touching rubber hand; p<0.001) but not for Condition (needle versus brush p=0.964) or experimental Event×Condition interaction (p=0.160). Ten of the 20 participants (50%) reported that they experienced a sensation arising from the rubber hand when the rubber hand was approached and touched by either the needle and/or brush but these sensations lacked precision in location, timing, and nature.
Our preliminary findings suggest that the increase in arousal in response to stimuli entering the peripersonal space may not be selective for threat. There was tentative evidence that more intense sensations were experienced when a perceptually embodied rubber hand was approached by a threatening stimulus. Our findings provide initial insights and should serve as a catalyst for further research.
已表明用有害刺激威胁一个在感知上被具身化的橡胶手会产生与真实手受到威胁时所体验到的焦虑水平相似的焦虑。本研究的目的是调查当一个在感知上被具身化的橡胶手暴露于威胁性和非威胁性刺激时的皮肤电导反应、自我报告的焦虑以及感觉的发生率、类型和位置。
采用重复测量交叉设计，20名参与者（≥18岁，14名女性）接受对一个在感知上被具身化的橡胶手的威胁性（注射器针头）和非威胁性（软刷）刺激。通过用软刷同步轻刷参与者的真实手（在视线外）和橡胶手（在视线内）来实现感知具身化。然后研究者用注射器针头（威胁）或软刷（非威胁）靠近橡胶手。
重复测量方差分析发现，用任何一种刺激靠近在感知上被具身化的橡胶手，都会使对以下问题的反应强度评分产生统计学上显著的降低（p<0.01）：“感觉橡胶手有多强烈地像是你自己的？”；“感觉橡胶手有多强烈地像是你身体的一部分？”；以及“感觉你能多强烈地移动橡胶手？”。然而，针头刺激和软刷刺激之间的得分没有统计学上的显著差异。对皮肤电导反应进行的重复测量方差分析发现，实验事件（基线；轻刷；感知具身化；刺激靠近橡胶手；刺激触碰橡胶手；p<0.001）有统计学上的显著影响，但条件（针头与软刷，p=0.964）或实验事件×条件交互作用（p=0.160）没有。20名参与者中有10名（50%）报告说，当橡胶手被针头和/或软刷靠近并触碰时，他们体验到了来自橡胶手的感觉，但这些感觉在位置、时间和性质上缺乏精确性。
我们的初步研究结果表明，对进入个人周边空间的刺激的唤醒增加可能并非对威胁具有选择性。有初步证据表明，当一个在感知上被具身化的橡胶手被威胁性刺激靠近时，会体验到更强烈的感觉。我们的研究结果提供了初步见解，应能成为进一步研究的催化剂。
