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  • Left caloric vestibular sti...
    Sedda, A.; Tonin, D.; Salvato, G.; Gandola, M.; Bottini, G.

    Consciousness and cognition, April 2016, 2016-Apr, 2016-04-00, 20160401, Letnik: 41
    Journal Article

    •The role of vestibular signals in body representation is still debated.•We measured implicit and explicit representation parameters during CVS.•Our results show that CVS decreases body temperature and increases tactile acuity.•We suggest a dynamic role of the vestibular system in updating the body matrix. Homeostatic parameters, such as temperature, are related to body representation. In this study, we measured whether caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) alters body temperature and tactile processing, and if in the direction predicted by a holistic body matrix representation. Skin temperature and tactile two-point discrimination (TPD) acuity were measured for both arms before, immediately after and with a delay from CVS. Participants were also administered a personality questionnaire and an anxiety inventory to rule out confounding factors. Two control experiments were planned to exclude casual variations. Our results show that temperature drops significantly in both arms after CVS. CVS also induces a bilateral improvement in tactile acuity (even though not immediately after but in the delayed condition). Finally, these effects are not due to learning, as demonstrated by the control experiment. In summary, our results suggest that vestibular stimulation updates body representation, supporting the evidence in favor of a body matrix.