A case of illusory own-body perceptions after transcranial magnetic stimulation of the cerebellum

Cerebellum. 2006;5(3):238-40. doi: 10.1080/14734220600791469.

Abstract

Illusory own-body perceptions are 'body in space' misinterpretations of the brain and belong to the class of out-of-body experiences wherein the angular gyrus seems importantly implicated. In the present study additional cerebellum involvement in illusory own-body perceptions was investigated in a healthy young female right-handed volunteer. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied over the cerebellum. Placebo cerebellum TMS and occipital TMS served as control conditions. Illusory own-body perceptions accompanied by electric brain activity over the somatosensory cortex were only observed after cerebellum TMS. The data provide the first evidence that the cerebellum might be involved in a neuronal network underlying illusory own-body perceptions.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cerebellum / physiology
  • Cerebellum / radiation effects*
  • Electroencephalography / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Illusions / physiology
  • Illusions / radiation effects*
  • Perception / radiation effects*
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation*