Altered body awareness after spinal cord injury
A Comprehensive Assessment of Altered Embodiment in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury
This project uses behavioral tests and fMRI to see how body awareness changes in adults with spinal cord injury compared to people without the injury.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil Research network |
| Locations | 1 site (Nottwil, Canton of Lucerne) |
| Trial ID | NCT06688916 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational project compares adults with chronic traumatic spinal cord injury to people without injury to characterize changes in embodiment. Participants complete behavioral assessments and questionnaires about bodily sensations and daily life, then undergo a single 2–2.5 hour functional MRI session to measure related brain activity. Key inclusion criteria are age 18–60, German or Italian as native language, normal or corrected vision, and for the SCI group a lesion below T1 at least 12 months prior with some residual L2–L3 sensation. The study is conducted at Swiss Paraplegic Research in Nottwil and aims to link subjective reports and daily-life impacts with neural correlates.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are German- or Italian-speaking adults aged 18–60 with normal or corrected vision; the SCI group should have a traumatic lesion below T1, be at least 12 months post-injury, and retain some sensation in the L2–L3 dermatomes.
Not a fit: People who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have other neurological or psychiatric disorders (including traumatic brain injury or stroke), recent substance abuse, inability to consent, lesions above T1, less than 12 months since injury, or no residual L2–L3 sensation are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could inform more targeted rehabilitation and mental-health support by clarifying how altered body awareness relates to daily function and brain activity.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior studies have used behavioral measures and fMRI to study embodiment, but comprehensive characterization of disembodiment specifically in chronic SCI is limited, making this approach relatively novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria for all participants: * Age between 18 and 60 * Normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity * German or Italian native speaker Additional Inclusion Criteria only for individuals with SCI: * Diagnosis of traumatic spinal cord injury * Lesion level below T1 (first thoracic vertebra) * Time since injury \>= 12 months * Residual sensation on the upper leg (sensory capability of 1 or higher on at least one leg in the dermatomes L2 and L3 for both light touch and pin prick). Exclusion Criteria for all participants: * Pregnancy or breastfeeding * Diagnosis of other psychiatric or neurological disorders (e.g. epilepsy, tumor in the central nervous system) * Confirmed diagnosis of alcohol and/or drug abuse with active consumption within the last 6 months * Confirmed diagnosis of traumatic brain injury, intended as visible changes in the brain diagnosed by a radiologist * Stroke * Inability to perform study procedures (e.g. inability to consent) Additional Exclusion Criteria for both HC and SCI undergoing the fMRI procedure: * Active medical devices (e.g. cardiac pacemaker) * Inability to perform study procedures (e.g. claustrophobia)
Where this trial is running
Nottwil, Canton of Lucerne
- Swiss Paraplegic Research — Nottwil, Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Giuseppe A. Zito, Dr.
- Email: giuseppe.zito@paraplegie.ch
- Phone: 0041419395586
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.