Data_Sheet_1_Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation Over Ventral Premotor Cortex or Inferior Parietal Lobule Does Not Enhance the Rubber Hand Illusion.docx

An enhanced sense of prosthesis ownership may be the key for higher amputees’ quality of life. In this study in 28 healthy subjects, neuronavigated intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) delivered over the right ventral premotor cortex or inferior parietal lobule has been tested, compared to sham stimulation, to enhance embodiment in the rubber hand illusion paradigm. Neuromodulation of both areas did not result in an enhancement of embodiment, as assessed by the results collected from a self-evaluation questionnaire for the extent of self-attribution of the rubber hand and proprioceptive drift. In all cases, the difference between synchronous and asynchronous stroking confirms the successful induction of the illusion. It may be speculated that the low consistency of iTBS over brain regions other than primary motor cortex may account for the absence of effect, suggesting to test other neuromodulating techniques, acting on cortical networks different from the ones sensitive to iTBS to enhance artificial hand embodiment.

提升假肢拥有感或许是改善截肢群体生活质量的核心关键。本研究纳入28名健康受试者，针对右侧腹侧前运动皮层（right ventral premotor cortex）与下顶叶小叶（inferior parietal lobule）施加神经导航间歇性θ爆发刺激（neuronavigated intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation, iTBS），并以假刺激（sham stimulation）作为对照，探究其对橡胶手错觉范式（rubber hand illusion paradigm）中具身感知的增强效果。通过针对橡胶手自我归属程度的自评问卷及本体感受漂移所得的评估结果可知，对上述两个脑区的神经调控并未提升具身感知。所有受试者中，同步抚摸与异步抚摸间的差异均证实橡胶手错觉已成功诱发。据此可推测，相较于初级运动皮层（primary motor cortex），在其他脑区实施iTBS的效果一致性欠佳，这或许是本研究未观测到调控效应的原因；该结果提示，未来可尝试应用作用于非iTBS敏感皮层网络的其他神经调控技术，以增强义肢具身感知。