Defensive activation during the rubber hand illusion: Ownership versus proprioceptive drift

• First investigation of the combined effects of the RHI and threat-of-shock.
• Assessment of physiological responses to body-unrelated aversive stimuli during the RHI.
• Individual susceptibility to the RHI is associated with physiological activation.
• We report differences between ownership ratings and proprioceptive drift in the RHI.

A strong link between body perception and emotional experience has been proposed. To examine the interaction between body perception and anticipatory anxiety, two well-established paradigms were combined: The rubber hand illusion (RHI) and the threat-of-shock paradigm. An artificial hand and the participants’ own hand (hidden from sight) were touched synchronously or asynchronously, while either threat-of-shock or safety was cued. Potentiated startle reflexes and enhanced skin conductance responses were observed during threat as compared to safety conditions, but threat conditions did not interact with illusory body perceptions. Thus, defense system activation was not modulated by altered body representations. Physiological responses increased with the sense of ownership for the artificial limb, but not with proprioceptive drift towards its location. The results indicate that ownership ratings and proprioceptive drift capture different aspects of the RHI. The study presents a new approach to investigate the relationship between body representations and emotional states.