Affiliations: Lehrbereich für Medizinische Psychologie,
Universität zu Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck | Abteilung für Medizinische Psychologie und
Soziologie, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Waldweg 37, 37073
Göttingen
Note: [] Korrespondenzadresse: Frederike Spithaler Lehrbereich für
Medizinische Psychologie Universität zu Lübeck Ratzeburger Allee 160
D-23538 Lübeck. E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Abstract: Somatosensory hallucinations occur not only in psychosis
or under the influence of drugs. Therefore, we implemented a survey to
investigate changes in body perception in a random sample of users in different
German internet forums. Methods: Using an internet-based questionnaire, 680 mostly young
subjects were asked about changes in body perception. Items addressed sensory
hallucinations, affected body parts, frequency and perceived cause of such
experiences. In addition, some questions assessed symptoms of identity
disorders (e.g. Body Identity Integrity Disorder, Gender Identity Disorder).
Two items were included twice in a slightly changed format in order to test
reliability. Results: Out of 680 questionnaires 422 (62%) were included in the
analysis. All participants reported a body-referred change in perception at
least once in their life and about 90% reportedly experienced more than one
such change in body perception. The sensation that a part of the body was
heavier (47.1%), lighter (34.5%), larger (31.4%), smaller (16.5%), levitating
(26.9%), was tingling and pricking (84.5%), not belonging to one's own body
(20.5%) or leaving the body (15.7%) were reported. 6.4% of respondents
experienced changes in the identification with their own body. Women reported
significantly more body perception changes than men. Conclusions: There exist multiple changes in body perception,
presumably brought on by stress, meditation, or exercise. Women seem to be more
sensitive with respect to the perception of their own body compared to men.
Keywords: changes in body perception, sensory hallucinations, identity disorders, levitation, out-of-body experience
