The Empathy Quotient (EQ) predicts perceived strength of bodily illusions and illusion-related sensations of pain |
| |
Institution: | 1. Department of Applied Physics and Electronics, UmeåUniversity, Umeå 90187, Sweden;2. Department of Media Technology and Interaction Design, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm 10044, Sweden |
| |
Abstract: | In this study we test the possible implications of high empathising skills on bodily self–other distinction by measuring the strength of a body ownership illusion and a related experience of illusory pain. One-hundred adult participants completed the Empathy Quotient (EQ) questionnaire. Twenty participants from the top quintile and 20 participants from the bottom quintile of the EQ distribution took part in a laboratory experiment. In the experiment, a classical Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI) was induced followed by the presentation of a series of painful stimuli to the rubber hand. Participants were asked to self-rate the strength of their subjective experience of the RHI and of the illusory pain. A proprioceptive location judgment on the position of the hidden hand was also required before and after RHI induction, to record drifts towards the rubber hand. We found a significant difference between high- and low-empathy participants in RHI and pain score. The EQ was not related with the proprioceptive location judgement drift. It thus appears to be a better predictor of subjective ownership feelings and phenomenological self–other merging than of the behavioural components of bodily illusions. |
| |
Keywords: | Empathy Quotient Rubber Hand Illusion Mirror-touch synaesthesia Illusory pain Extreme Female Brain |
本文献已被 ScienceDirect 等数据库收录! |
|