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Full Length Article
The depersonalized brain: New evidence supporting a distinction between depersonalization and derealization from discrete patterns of autonomic suppression observed in a non-clinical sample
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HayleyDeweaDerrick G.WatsonbKlausKesslercJason J.Braithwaited
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https://doi.org/10.1...cog.2018.06.008
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Highlights

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New body-specific paradigm reveals novel findings in Self-Other processing.
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Aberrant autonomic activity to aversive body-threats in a non-clinical group.
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Trait-based depersonalization is related to autonomic suppression for Self threats.
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Trait-based derealization is related to autonomic suppression for Other threats.
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Findings have implications for theories of self-consciousness and awareness.

Abstract
Depersonalization and Derealization are characterised by feelings of detachment from one’s bodily self/surroundings and a general emotional numbness. We explored predisposition to trait-based experiences of depersonalization/derealization-type experiences and autonomic arousal toward simulated body-threats, which were delivered to the participant’s own body (i.e. Self) and when observed being delivered to another individual (i.e. Other). Ninety participants took part in an “Implied Body-Threat Illusion” task (Dewe, Watson, & Braithwaite, 2016) and autonomic arousal was recorded via standardised skin conductance responses and finger temperature. Autonomic suppression in response to threats delivered to the Self correlated with increases in trait-based depersonalization-type experiences. In contrast, autonomic suppression for threats delivered to Others correlated with trait-based derealization-like experiences. Body-temperature and anticipatory arousal did not correlate reliably with predisposition to depersonalization- or derealization-type experiences. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed in terms of a fronto-limbic autonomic suppression mechanism.