A Comprehensive Assessment of Altered Embodiment in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury
NCT ID: NCT06688916
Last Updated: 2025-10-08
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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RECRUITING
80 participants
OBSERVATIONAL
2025-06-04
2026-05-31
Brief Summary
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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).
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Detailed Description
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Conditions
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Study Design
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CASE_CONTROL
PROSPECTIVE
Study Groups
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Individuals with SCI - Behavioral assessment
15 individuals with SCI will perform a comprehensive behavioral assessment of embodiment (see "Interventions"). A clinical assessment of sensory-motor symptoms will also be carried out.
Behavioral assessment
A comprehensive behavioral assessment of embodiment and its effect on daily living, taking into account pain, interoception, emotions and anxiety, sleep quality, life satsfaction and cognition.
Individuals with SCI - Behavioral assessment and fMRI
25 individuals with SCI will perform a comprehensive behavioral assessment of embodiment and neural correlates of embodiment will be explored by means of an fMRI procedure (see "Interventions"). A clinical assessment of sensory-motor symptoms will also be carried out.
Behavioral assessment
A comprehensive behavioral assessment of embodiment and its effect on daily living, taking into account pain, interoception, emotions and anxiety, sleep quality, life satsfaction and cognition.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Neural mechanisms of embodiments will be explored with MRI sequences including structural MRI, resting-state and task-based fMRI of the head.
The task will be a modified version of the rubber hand illusion, previously used to asess embodiment. Participants will be required to lay in the MRI with their legs bended upright and a screen placed at the level of their hips, which will show a pair of legs. The participant's leg will be stroked with a paintbrush while the image on the screen will be showing the virtual legs being stroked. Participants will be required to report how strongly they perceive the virtual legs as their own, as a measure of embodiment.
Healthy controls - Behavioral assessment
15 healthy controls will perform a comprehensive behavioral assessment of embodiment (see "Interventions").
Behavioral assessment
A comprehensive behavioral assessment of embodiment and its effect on daily living, taking into account pain, interoception, emotions and anxiety, sleep quality, life satsfaction and cognition.
Healthy controls - Behavioral assessment and fMRI
25 individuals with SCI will perform a comprehensive behavioral assessment of embodiment and neural correlates of embodiment will be explored by means of an fMRI procedure (see "Interventions").
Behavioral assessment
A comprehensive behavioral assessment of embodiment and its effect on daily living, taking into account pain, interoception, emotions and anxiety, sleep quality, life satsfaction and cognition.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Neural mechanisms of embodiments will be explored with MRI sequences including structural MRI, resting-state and task-based fMRI of the head.
The task will be a modified version of the rubber hand illusion, previously used to asess embodiment. Participants will be required to lay in the MRI with their legs bended upright and a screen placed at the level of their hips, which will show a pair of legs. The participant's leg will be stroked with a paintbrush while the image on the screen will be showing the virtual legs being stroked. Participants will be required to report how strongly they perceive the virtual legs as their own, as a measure of embodiment.
Interventions
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Behavioral assessment
A comprehensive behavioral assessment of embodiment and its effect on daily living, taking into account pain, interoception, emotions and anxiety, sleep quality, life satsfaction and cognition.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Neural mechanisms of embodiments will be explored with MRI sequences including structural MRI, resting-state and task-based fMRI of the head.
The task will be a modified version of the rubber hand illusion, previously used to asess embodiment. Participants will be required to lay in the MRI with their legs bended upright and a screen placed at the level of their hips, which will show a pair of legs. The participant's leg will be stroked with a paintbrush while the image on the screen will be showing the virtual legs being stroked. Participants will be required to report how strongly they perceive the virtual legs as their own, as a measure of embodiment.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity
* German or Italian native speaker
* Diagnosis of traumatic spinal cord injury
* Lesion level below T1 (first thoracic vertebra)
* Time since injury \>= 12 months
* Residual sensation on the upper leg (sensory capability of 1 or higher on at least one leg in the dermatomes L2 and L3 for both light touch and pin prick).
Exclusion Criteria
* Diagnosis of other psychiatric or neurological disorders (e.g. epilepsy, tumor in the central nervous system)
* Confirmed diagnosis of alcohol and/or drug abuse with active consumption within the last 6 months
* Confirmed diagnosis of traumatic brain injury, intended as visible changes in the brain diagnosed by a radiologist
* Stroke
* Inability to perform study procedures (e.g. inability to consent)
* Active medical devices (e.g. cardiac pacemaker)
* Inability to perform study procedures (e.g. claustrophobia)
18 Years
65 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil
NETWORK
Responsible Party
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Locations
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Swiss Paraplegic Research
Nottwil, Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland
Countries
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Central Contacts
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Facility Contacts
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Other Identifiers
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2024-13
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
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