The Effect of Interoceptive Awareness and Diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa on Susceptibility to the Rubber Hand Illusion

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  • February 26, 2019
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  • Weinel, Mary Katherine
    • Affiliation: College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience
Abstract
  • Introduction. Previous studies have reported that women with anorexia nervosa (AN) are more susceptible to the rubber hand illusion—a perceptual illusion used to measure somatosensory processing deficits—compared to healthy women. Susceptibility to the rubber hand illusion is measured by a shift in perceived location of one’s index finger and skin temperature changes pre- and post-exposure to the task as well as a self-report questionnaire. This study aimed to assess whether there is a significant effect of an interoceptive-awareness-raising task on susceptibility to the illusion. Methods. The rubber hand illusion was elicited twice (once during each of the two visits) in 19 healthy women (HC group) and 13 women with a current diagnosis of AN. Skin temperatures were taken before and during exposure to the rubber hand illusion. Perceived locations of the index finger were measured before and after exposure. All participants filled out a self-report questionnaire about their experience of the illusion after exposure. During the second visit, participants monitored and reported their perceived heart beats before undergoing the rubber hand illusion task. Results. Women with AN had significantly lower scores on the Body Awareness Questionnaire compared to healthy control women. Contrary to previous research findings, women with AN endorsed less susceptibility to the rubber hand illusion compared to healthy women based on results from a self-report questionnaire, and there were no significant differences in perceived index finger location changes (proprioceptive drift) between AN and HC groups. There was a trend toward women with AN having a lower interoceptive sensitivity score based on a heart-rate monitoring task. When age and body awareness were controlled for, there was a trend of a difference between healthy control women and women with AN on right hand skin temperature changes pre- and post-exposure to the rubber hand illusion. Discussion. Nonsignificant results on the heart rate monitoring task and proprioceptive drift could have resulted from a change in methodology used in this study. On subjective measures, women with AN are less likely to report feeling susceptible to the illusion. Low body awareness and higher age may cause women with AN to be less likely to endorse susceptibility to the rubber hand illusion. Because there were no significant differences in any measure across visits, no support was found for a possible learning effect or effect of the heart-rate monitoring (possible interoceptive awareness-raising) task. Future research should seek to find support for either explanation. The rubber hand illusion could be used a therapeutic tool to assess somatosensory processing deficits in women with AN.
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  • In Copyright
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  • Funding: Sarah Steele Danhoff Undergraduate Research Fund
  • Funding: Training Grant Awarded to Stephanie Zerwas, PhD
Advisor
  • Zerwas, Stephanie
Degree
  • Bachelor of Science
Honors level
  • Highest Honors
Degree granting institution
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Extent
  • 44

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