PREDICTSELF
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PREDICTSELF: Evaluating a predictive processing model of dissociative identity disorder (DID)
IRAS ID
322872
Contact name
Devin Terhune
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology, & Neuroscience
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 9 months, 20 days
Research summary
The purpose of this research is to develop and test a new model of dissociative identity disorder (DID). DID is characterised by disruptions in the sense of self as a consequence of severe developmental trauma (e.g., identity confusion). Our model is rooted in the idea that human perception is influenced by both information gained through our senses as well as our prior beliefs. In certain contexts, prior beliefs can be so powerful that they override our perception. Our model proposes that severe developmental trauma leads to the formation of strong beliefs that sensory information corresponding to the self (e.g., one’s face or voice) corresponds to another person rather than one’s self. In turn, certain events are experienced as though they happened to someone else and basic sensory information is misrepresented (e.g., not recognising one’s face or voice). This project will consist of four studies comparing DID, a clinical control group (posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]), and non-clinical controls. In two perception tasks (face and voice), participants will judge whether photos/voices are of the self or another (a stranger). Photos/voices will comprise self-other morphs, degraded with noise. Participants with DID are expected to have a greater bias towards perceiving self-related stimuli as corresponding to another person. We will further complement this by using EEG to better understand the brain correlates of these effects. We expect that these results will help to further understand the cognitive and brain mechanisms underlying identity alterations in DID.
REC name
London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/LO/0058
Date of REC Opinion
9 Feb 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion