Fear and pain destroy the connection with your own body

Feeling that our bodies belong to us plays a key role in how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. It helps us react to danger, interact with objects and feel whole. Sometimes, however, this sense of belonging is diminished or even eliminated, such as in depersonalization.

To understand what affects the connection between the mind and the physical shell, scientists from Hiroshima University conducted an experiment with virtual reality. Participants put on a VR helmet and watched a virtual avatar that was supposed to be perceived as their own body. At the same time, the researchers created situations that could cause discomfort or anxiety.

In the first stage of the experiment, the subjects were shown how the virtual body received pleasant tactile sensations, such as stroking the back. This helped to create a total immersion effect, whereby the person began to perceive the virtual body as their own.

But then the researchers added a new factor: the participants had to imagine that their avatar was in pain, for example, feeling a stomachache. After that, a knife appeared on the screen and was sharply stabbed into the virtual back. The scientists recorded the subjects’ physiological reactions by measuring skin resistance levels – an indicator of fear and stress.

When the virtual body was associated with negative feelings, participants’ sense of connection to it weakened. This was especially pronounced in those who tended to depersonalize. This may explain why some people have a poorer sense of their own bodies and are more susceptible to self-perception disorders.

The findings may help in the development of methods to restore a sense of bodily belonging. For example, this could be useful in the treatment of depersonalization-derealization disorder, as well as in rehabilitation after trauma or mental distress. In the future, experts plan to study what other factors may influence the perception of the body and how its broken connection with consciousness can be restored.