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Published on: March 10, 2021
The spatial side of somatoparaphrenia: a case study
Gerardo Salvato1,2,3, Martina Gandola1,2,3, Laura Veronelli4
1a Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences , University of Pavia , Pavia , Italy.
Somatoparaphrenia (SP) involves a delusional belief of disownership for one's paralyzed limb. Spatial attention and vestibular stimulation significantly influence SP symptoms, offering potential rehabilitation avenues.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Clinical Neurology
Background:
- The bodily self in space relies on integrated brain mechanisms.
- Somatoparaphrenia (SP) disrupts this by causing delusional disownership of a paralyzed limb.
Observation:
- SP signs worsened when spatial attention was directed leftward in a patient with chronic SP.
- Interviewing from the left bedside exacerbated SP symptoms.
Findings:
- Left caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) induced the first transient remission of SP.
- Vestibular signals are crucial for coherent body representation.
Implications:
- Spatial orientation and vestibular input are key factors in somatoparaphrenia.
- CVS shows promise for rehabilitating SP symptoms.
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