Self-other boundary under social threat in schizophrenia.

Autor: Lee HS; Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA. Electronic address: hyeonseung.lee@vanderbilt.edu., Sangimino M; Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA., Baxter T; Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA., Buck L; School of Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA; Division of Games, University of Utah, Utah, USA., Bodenheimer B; School of Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA., Park S; Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, USA.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Schizophrenia research [Schizophr Res] 2024 Sep 26; Vol. 274, pp. 182-188. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Sep 26.
DOI: 10.1016/j.schres.2024.09.018
Abstrakt: Spatial representation of the self plays a vital role constructing our sense of bodily self-boundary that distinguishes the self from others. This perceptual border, known as the peripersonal space (PPS), has been suggested to be altered in individuals with schizophrenia (SZ). PPS represents a protective defensive zone that triggers alarm signals upon threat detection; thus disrupted PPS could lead to social interactional difficulties. However, very little is known about the impact of threat on PPS. To address this gap, a visual-tactile response-time (RT) experiment was conducted in immersive virtual reality (VR) for SZ and matched controls (CO). Participants were asked to detect a tactile vibration on their hand while an avatar (either threatening or neutral) approached them. Avatars were presented at different distance from the participants. PPS size and slope were estimated by identifying significant RT drop at the hypothesized self-other boundary. We also examined the relationship between PPS parameters, clinical symptoms and social disconnection. There was no overall group difference in PPS size. Perceived social threat posed in the avatars sharpened the self-boundary in CO but not in SZ. In SZ, shallower PPS slope was associated with delusion, persecution, negative symptoms and loneliness but not in CO. These results show that the regulation of self-other boundary in response to impending social threat may be maladaptive in SZ. Further research is needed on the causal mechanisms between self-disturbance and social impairments.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None.
(Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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