Actively Recruiting
A Comprehensive Assessment of Altered Embodiment in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury
Led by Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil · Updated on 2025-10-08
80
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
47 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Spinal cord injury (SCI) occurs when trauma or other factors damage the spinal cord, disrupting the flow of sensory information from the body to the brain. This interruption can interfere with embodiment-the body awareness and physical sensations processed by the brain-sometimes leading to a phenomenon called disembodiment. For people with SCI, disembodiment may appear as unusual body sensations, like feeling that a limb is in a different position than it actually is. Such changes in body awareness can impact daily life, mental health, and rehabilitation outcomes. Despite its importance, the study of embodiment in SCI remains limited. This project aims to explore how SCI alters embodiment, focusing on its specific characteristics, the effects on daily life, and the underlying brain activity as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Both people with and without SCI will participate. Procedure: Participants will complete a single examination lasting 2 to 2.5 hours, including approximately 55 minutes in the MRI scanner (with preparation and follow-up).
CONDITIONS
Official Title
A Comprehensive Assessment of Altered Embodiment in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Age between 18 and 60 years
- Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- German or Italian native speaker
- Diagnosis of traumatic spinal cord injury (for SCI participants)
- Injury level below T1 vertebra (for SCI participants)
- Time since injury of 12 months or more (for SCI participants)
- Residual sensation on the upper leg in dermatomes L2 and L3 for both light touch and pin prick (for SCI participants)
You will not qualify if you...
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Diagnosis of other psychiatric or neurological disorders (e.g., epilepsy, brain tumors)
- Alcohol or drug abuse with active use in the last 6 months
- Confirmed traumatic brain injury with visible changes in the brain
- Stroke
- Inability to perform study procedures (e.g., unable to give consent)
- Presence of active medical devices such as cardiac pacemaker (for participants undergoing MRI)
- Claustrophobia preventing MRI procedures
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Swiss Paraplegic Research
Nottwil, Canton of Lucerne, Switzerland, 6207
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
G
Giuseppe A. Zito, Dr.
CONTACT
N
Nicola Brunello, MSc
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
4
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