Recent research investigates how cutaneous thermal signals contribute to our perception of bodily ownership, particularly among stroke patients suffering from Disturbed Sensation of Ownership (DSO). The study, which involved 45 patients with right-hemisphere strokes, reveals notable differences related to skin temperature and the ability to sense thermal stimuli.
Thermoreception, our ability to sense changes in temperature, originates from the skin and plays a significant role not only in regulating our body temperature but also in shaping how we perceive our physical selves. Researchers hypothesized these signals could be pivotal for the sense of ownership over one’s own body, especially which can be disrupted after strokes.
The study found those with DSO exhibited lower temperatures on their affected limbs and associated deficits in sensing hot and cold stimuli compared to others. Notably, the right Rolandic operculum and insula were identified as brain regions linked to these thermal variations. Both areas are understood to integrate various internal and external signals contributing to bodily self-awareness.
It was observed, for example, patients with DSO demonstrated lower temperature sensations and impaired temperature recognition abilities, shedding light on the complex interplay between thermoregulation and body ownership. Damage to significant brain areas seems to hinder not just temperature perception but also the coherent sense of ownership over one’s body.
These findings contribute to the broader debate on the role of such homeostatic signals, emphasizing thermoregulation's impact on our internal sense of who we are.
The authors argue for more research to clarify how thermosensory signals integrate with other sensory modalities, as well as their potential avenues for therapeutic interventions, particularly for individuals experiencing ownership disorders due to neurological conditions.
Understanding the significance of skin temperature and thermoreception is now seen as not just relevant to physiological well-being but also integral to our perceptual and emotional sense of the self. Moving forward, larger studies could illuminate whether such sensory functions might also alleviate persistent disorders related to bodily ownership.