body image distortion

Plasticity of Bodily Self Representations in Anorexia Nervosa

Bodily self-consciousness arises from integrating interoceptive and exteroceptive information, and can be altered by Interpersonal Multisensory Stimulation (IMS) procedures. Reproducing tactile sensations felt on the participant's actual body over a virtual avatar's body creates the illusion of owning the virtual body (i.e., embodiment) and changes self-representation. Providing interoceptive information enhances embodiment in healthy participants, especially in those with scarce interoceptive abilities.

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Characterizing Body Image Distortion and Bodily Self-Plasticity in Anorexia Nervosa via Visuo-Tactile Stimulation in Virtual Reality

We combined virtual reality and multisensory bodily illusion with the aim to characterize and reduce the perceptual (body overestimation) and the cognitive-emotional (body dissatisfaction) components of body image distortion (BID) in anorexia nervosa (AN). For each participant (20 anorexics, 20 healthy controls) we built personalized avatars that reproduced their own body size, shape, and verisimilar increases and losses of their original weight. Body overestimation and dissatisfaction were measured by asking participants to choose the avatar that best resembled their real and ideal body.