Universität zu Köln

Wolters, Carolin, Harzem, Jana, Witthoeft, Michael, Gerlach, Alexander L. ORCID: 0000-0001-6794-5349 and Pohl, Anna (2021). Somatosensory Illusions Elicited by Sham Electromagnetic Field Exposure: Experimental Evidence for a Predictive Processing Account of Somatic Symptom Perception. Psychosom. Med., 83 (1). S. 94 - 101. PHILADELPHIA: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. ISSN 1534-7796

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Abstract

Objective According to the predictive processing theory of somatic symptom generation, body sensations are determined by somatosensory input and central nervous predictions about this input. We examined how expectations shape predictions and consequently bodily perceptions in a task eliciting illusory sensations as laboratory analogue of medically unexplained symptoms. Methods Using the framework of signal detection theory, the influence of sham Wi-Fi on response bias (c) and somatosensory sensitivity (d ') for tactile stimuli was examined using the somatic signal detection task (SSDT). A healthy student sample (n = 83) completed the SSDT twice (sham Wi-Fi on/off) in a randomized order after watching a film that promoted adverse health effects of electromagnetic fields. Results When expecting a Wi-Fi signal to be present, participants showed a significantly more liberal response bias c (p = .010, eta(2)(p) = 0.08) for tactile stimuli in the SSDT as evidence of a higher propensity to experience somatosensory illusions. No significant alteration of somatosensory sensitivity d ' (p = .76, eta(2)(p) < 0.002) was observed. Conclusions Negative expectations about the harmfulness of electromagnetic fields may foster the occurrence of illusory symptom perceptions via alterations in the somatosensory decision criterion. The findings are in line with central tenets of the predictive processing account of somatic symptom generation. This account proposes a decoupling of percept and somatosensory input so that perception becomes increasingly dependent on predictions. This biased perception is regarded as a risk factor for somatic symptom disorders.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Wolters, Carolin UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Harzem, Jana UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Witthoeft, Michael UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Gerlach, Alexander L. UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-6794-5349 UNSPECIFIED Pohl, Anna UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-574773
DOI:	10.1097/PSY.0000000000000884
Journal or Publication Title:	Psychosom. Med.
Volume:	83
Number:	1
Page Range:	S. 94 - 101
Date:	2021
Publisher:	LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
Place of Publication:	PHILADELPHIA
ISSN:	1534-7796
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language MEDICALLY UNEXPLAINED SYMPTOMS; ILL HEALTH; AMPLIFICATION; INTEROCEPTION; POPULATION; COMPLAINTS; INFERENCE; BIAS Multiple languages Psychiatry; Psychology; Psychology, Multidisciplinary Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/57477