Visuo-tactile mirror properties in borderline personality disorder: a preregistered TMS-EEG study

Abstract Empathic abilities have been suggested to involve automatic simulation processes including mirror-like mechanisms in the somatosensory domain, within so-called tactile mirror system (TaMS). In TaMS, observation of a touch on one else's body activates same cortical network involved perception, comprising primary cortex (S1). As empathic appear be altered patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD), alterations TaMS hypothesized. this context, combined use transcranial magnetic stimulation and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) represents promising tool understand dynamics terms effective connectivity. Here, we aim at investigating connectivity 20 BPD healthy controls, by means TMS-EEG. TMS is delivered over left S1 while 74-channel EEG continuously recorded. TMS-evoked potentials (TEPs) are recorded during real touches (visual stimuli either part or an object), different time intervals for delivery (20 ms 150 after onset). Besides TEPs, behavioral measures functioning also collected, two groups will compared along measures. Hypotheses, methods planned analyses preregistered Open Science Framework before data collection improve methodological rigor transparency. Preliminary results show that TEPs can effectively components 50 100 consistent previous findings subjects. Moreover, subtraction event-related from enabled comparison between delivery. Results present study provide novel insights as putative neurophysiological candidate deficits, TMS-EEG recordings. Research Category Technology Methods Translational Research: 10. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Keywords: TMS-EEG, Borderline disorder, system,