Body image and haptic perception

For quite some time we have been taking interest in the question, whether and on which neuronal basis relations exist between body image and haptic perception in humans. In our opinion the haptic system gives psychophysiological base data for the concept of "body image". Therefore, we think that disturbances of body imgage - of the internal representation of the own body - are the consequence of elementary defects of processing and of perception within the scope of sense of touch. We follow this approach in different clinical studies concerning the explanation of disturbances of body image in patients with anorexia nervosa and patients with dysmorphic disorders. Aim of the investigations is to understand better one of its many causal dimensions and to develop - at best - effective therapeutic interventions making a reorganization of body image possible.

 

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