Influence of Caloric Vestibular Stimulation on Body Experience of Anorectic Patients

Abstract

Distorted body experience is a central aspect of anorexia nervosa. The distortion includes perceptual, cognitive, affective and behavioral components. Whereas body-based thoughts, emotions and behavior can be transformed by a standard therapy, the actual perceived body dimension can’t sufficiently be converted. Therefore, its persistence after normalizing of eating behavior can predict a relapse. Here we show that the body schema can be influenced by caloric vestibular stimulation. In two patients, showing a massive overestimation of their thigh’s width, the estimation after caloric vestibular stimulation was over 100% thinner than before. Surprisingly, the patients did not become aware of this change. The body-based thoughts and emotions were not modified. Our results demonstrate the isolated influence of vestibular stimulation on body experience of anorectic patients for the first time. Its clinical implication is briefly discussed.

Keywords: anorexia nervosa, caloric vestibular stimulation, body experience, body schema, body awareness, body image.