Vestibular and Multisensory Influence on Bodily and Spatial Representations

Vestibular and Multisensory Influence on Bodily and Spatial Representations. Behavioral and Electrophysiological Investigations in Vestibular-defective Patients and Healthy Volunteers

The present project aims at describing how vestibular signals contribute to the multisensory mechanisms of bodily self-consciousness.

There is a large body of data regarding the sensory and neural mechanisms of self-consciousness, but most studies have so far demonstrated the contribution of visual, tactile and proprioceptive signals to bodily self-consciousness. Thus, most studies have neglected the contribution of the vestibular system, a major sensory system for spatial and bodily representations. The vestibular system is sensitive to head motions in space and head inclinations with respect to gravity and it should therefore contribute significantly to several bodily experiences. This contribution should be put under neuroscientific scrutiny. We believe that the current neuroscientific models of bodily self-consciousness will be incomplete until they incorporate the contribution of vestibular signals.

The present project specifically aims at testing the hypothesis according to which vestibular signals significantly influence bodily self-consciousness, in particular first-person and third-person perspective taking and the internal body models (i.e. the body schema and body image). The present project also aims at describing how cortical vestibular processing is modified during experimental changes of perspective taking and viewpoint. In addition, the present project will describe whether vestibular disorders change performances in third-person perspective taking tasks and modify internal body models. This should help understanding bodily symptoms in vestibular-defective patients. To this end, we will combine approaches from psychophysics and electrophysiology (electromyography, electroencephalography) in healthy volunteers and behavioral approached in patients with vestibular disorders.

These studies should further the understanding of how the brain processes vestibular signals, which is to date poorly understood. In addition, the outcome of the present project should help understanding the multiple and complex symptoms reported by patients with vestibular diseases, and should therefore improve their treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Vestibular Disorders
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: electromyography; Other: electroencephalography; Other: approaches from psychophysics

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 80
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Marseille, France, 13354
    • Assistance Publique Hopitaux de Marseille

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient with chirurgical treatment for Meuniere disease or accoustic neurinoma or with acute vestibular deficiency.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient with neurological history
• Patient with a lack of motricity

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: vestibular signals determination; vestibular signals determination by electromyography and electroencephalography associated to approaches from psychophysics	Other: electromyography; Other: electroencephalography; Other: approaches from psychophysics

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
vestibular signals	testing the hypothesis according to which vestibular signals significantly influence bodily self-consciousness, in particular first-person and third-person perspective taking and the internal body models (i.e. the body schema and body image).	48 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Assistance Publique Hopitaux De Marseille

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): July 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 14, 2013
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): February 26, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): February 26, 2014
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2014
• Last Verified: February 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Labyrinth Diseases; Ear Diseases; Vestibular Diseases
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2013-A00691-44; 2013-18 (Other Identifier: AP HM)