Body schema

The body schema is the neuropsychological correlation between the perception of real body with the idea of ​​your own body. It can thus be described as " orientation on his own body ," as this is the first to describe Arnold Pick tat 1908. Already in 1905, struck Pierre Bonnier before the term " Aschématie " for certain zönästhetische disorders. The orientation on the own body changes according to the information from the body and the environment. Such information comes through a variety of sensory and sensory stimuli from the periphery of the body into being ( proprioception ), but finally have a vendor independent of sensory or sensory stimuli presentation character, ie they are - in contrast to perceptions - often without sharp object consciousness. So that the body schema is phenomenological rather the group of ideas attributed as that of perceptions. The physical orientation is of course also mediated by social information, including by naming the body parts. Also, social and biographical factors are determinative ( agnostic and amnestic disorders of the body schema ).

The term body schema is derived from ancient Greek schema ( σχήμα ) = a ) posture; position; gesture; Face, fashion, how to behave; decency; b ) outside; shape; form; elevator; costume; plan; c ) nature; location; ratio; state; position; d) Constitution of the State; e) word form; Figure of speech.

Definition according to Jaspers

According to Karl Jaspers, the body schema belongs to be there philosophically interpreted body awareness. The body schema is to describe the intuition of space image that we have of ourselves. Jaspers distinguishes sensory perception of ideas

• A) through the imagery of the idea in relation to the physicality of the perception
• B ) by the appearance of the idea in the inner space of the imagination against the perception in external objective space
• C ) by the indefinite and incomplete drawing of the idea in relation to the specific and complete drawing of perception in all details
• D ) through the sometimes inadequate representation of ideas against the sensual freshness of perceptions
• E) by the instability zerflatternder and deliquescent ideas against the constancy and reproducibility of perceptions
• F) by the activity of ideas against the partial passivity of perceptions. Spontaneity of ideas through active volition and emotion, see a subject- object split.

Definition as esoteric concept concept

However, the concept of body image is also a series of esoteric beliefs based, such as the Enneagram, or chakra. The body schema is limited to the Enneagram to the so-called body centers such as the head, heart and abdomen, in the chakra, it is extended to a total of seven body parts. What matters is the psychophysical correlation in these theories.

Anatomy, physiology, psychology

The interplay between perception of the outside world and the physical world is a fundamental human stress field (Fig. 1), which is not only in anatomy and physiology but also in the psychology of meaning, see also the conceptual opposites of Exterozeption and proprioception and the extraversion and introversion.

On preverbal representational recognition process both halves of the brain are involved. Therefore, a lesion of the non- language-dominant hemisphere lead to gnostic disturbances both for the present environment as well as parts of one's body. - But one hemisphere is dominant with language development and communication through spoken and written symbols. This language-dominant hemisphere is the recognition and Voice of symbols exclusively reserved. Its proprietary body image is retained even after the loss of a limb to exist as a whole.

Due to the anatomically demonstrable somatotopic structure of the sensorimotor cortical areas of the brain, the question arises whether the cerebral integration of power that must be accepted as a requirement for an intact body schema, in analogy to the sensorimotor as autotopischer Homunculus called (Fig. 2) and can be proven can. This integration performance is often tied to the highest centers of the cerebral cortex. Already the primary receptive ( sensory) cortical areas ( primary fields, primary cortical areas ) in which projects the sensory- motor stimuli from the periphery and what it will be processed first, ask " so to speak, a reduced, consisting of brain tissue model certain peripheral regions of the body " dar. this task However, the integration and coordination is apparently in three different stages of the primary field to the tertiary association fields of the dominant hemisphere ( areae 39 and 40, and likely to area 37). In determining whether there is a structured somatotopisches substrate for the body schema, rather doubts are attached. There are reasons for believing that this is a purely functional interplay of the various non topically structured brain fields, because this function can be disturbed even at fatigue. The late maturation of the life history areae 37, 39 and 40 in favor of this assumption. The Roche Dictionary Medical denotes the somaesthetic (sensory cortex) classified as partially somatotopically, as well as the connections to the (primary) somatotopically and segmentally structured cortical area of the dentate gyrus must be considered. However, it comes with herds in the ( right ) dominant parietal region to a non-compliance of the left half of the body ( neglect ). The patient then takes not the paralysis of his left side limbs or even blindness true ( anosognosia, Anton cal syndrome), for example. Even without paralysis pronounced neuropsychological disturbances may occur. Similar observations can be found (eg, depersonalization ) even when the ego disturbances. There appears to be room for the representation of information required by the ego psychology while localizing neural evidence, however, no special brain center, as these tasks are apparently differentiated and diverse.

Disorders of the body schema

In case of failure of such peripheral information, such as due to paralysis or amputation of limbs, body image disorders are often associated with other disorders as well, such as with agnostic disturbances as in anosognosia or with phantom pain. Disorders of the body schema are also called Autotopagnosia or shortened as Autopagnosie. These disorders can also occur as focal symptoms in damage in the region of the association areas. With the language development or with the use of spoken and written symbols part of the brain is dominant. It also develops the body scheme and is responsible for sprachgnostischen and practical language services more or less competent. Disorders of the body schema are often associated with apraxia and agnostic linguistic failures and are based on damage of the dominant hemisphere. The body schema is clinically tested by linguistic mapping of the names of body parts and as a movement skill. Because analogous consideration of the concept of body schema in theoretical terms, to illustrate mental disorders such as hypochondria or depersonalization can be used. This usage goes back to a suggestion by Paul Schilder (1923). - Have described Scientifically, the body schema Arnold Pick ( 1908), Henry Head (1926 ) and Paul Schilder (1935 ). The formulation body schema has used signs first.