Objective: Many studies have explored sense of self in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, few have reported on their experience of “disembodiment.” This study aimed to investigate the differences in brain activity between patients with ASD and neurotypicals (NTs) under conditions causing disembodiment and to examine the correlation between their interoceptive abilities and disembodiment-related brain activity. Methods: 18 Participants with ASD and 21 NTs completed psychological evaluations, interoceptive abilities measurement, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The fMRI images were taken while the participants performed tasks involving ball-throwing animations. The task focused on either self-agency related to ball-throwing (Agency Task) or the spatial location of a ball (Location Task). The animations were presented from constantly changing perspective (Changing View) or fixed perspective (Fixed View). The disembodiment-related condition was the interaction between the Agency Task and Changing View. Results: Participants with ASD exhibited higher activation than NTs in regions near the left parieto-temporo-occipital junction, left precuneus, left hippocampus, and other brain areas. Furthermore, interoceptive accuracy was negatively correlated with the activity of the left superior parietal and posterior midcingulate areas, whereas interoceptive trait prediction error was positively correlated with the activity of the left hippocampus, mid-temporal area, and left posterior cingulate area in participants with ASD. Conclusion These results suggest that disembodiment-related brain activation might be easily manifested by the interaction between perspective-shifting and the experience of agency, and that interoceptive abilities might be related to disembodiment-related brain activation in individuals with ASD.

Objective: Many studies have explored sense of self in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, few have reported on their experience of “disembodiment.” This study aimed to investigate the differences in brain activity between patients with ASD and neurotypicals (NTs) under conditions causing disembodiment and to examine the correlation between their interoceptive abilities and disembodiment-related brain activity. Methods: 18 Participants with ASD and 21 NTs completed psychological evaluations, interoceptive abilities measurement, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The fMRI images were taken while the participants performed tasks involving ball-throwing animations. The task focused on either self-agency related to ball-throwing (Agency Task) or the spatial location of a ball (Location Task). The animations were presented from constantly changing perspective (Changing View) or fixed perspective (Fixed View). The disembodiment-related condition was the interaction between the Agency Task and Changing View. Results: Participants with ASD exhibited higher activation than NTs in regions near the left parieto-temporo-occipital junction, left precuneus, left hippocampus, and other brain areas. Furthermore, interoceptive accuracy was negatively correlated with the activity of the left superior parietal and posterior midcingulate areas, whereas interoceptive trait prediction error was positively correlated with the activity of the left hippocampus, mid-temporal area, and left posterior cingulate area in participants with ASD. Conclusion These results suggest that disembodiment-related brain activation might be easily manifested by the interaction between perspective-shifting and the experience of agency, and that interoceptive abilities might be related to disembodiment-related brain activation in individuals with ASD.

Objective: Many studies have explored sense of self in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, few have reported on their experience of “disembodiment.” This study aimed to investigate the differences in brain activity between patients with ASD and neurotypicals (NTs) under conditions causing disembodiment and to examine the correlation between their interoceptive abilities and disembodiment-related brain activity. Methods: 18 Participants with ASD and 21 NTs completed psychological evaluations, interoceptive abilities measurement, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The fMRI images were taken while the participants performed tasks involving ball-throwing animations. The task focused on either self-agency related to ball-throwing (Agency Task) or the spatial location of a ball (Location Task). The animations were presented from constantly changing perspective (Changing View) or fixed perspective (Fixed View). The disembodiment-related condition was the interaction between the Agency Task and Changing View. Results: Participants with ASD exhibited higher activation than NTs in regions near the left parieto-temporo-occipital junction, left precuneus, left hippocampus, and other brain areas. Furthermore, interoceptive accuracy was negatively correlated with the activity of the left superior parietal and posterior midcingulate areas, whereas interoceptive trait prediction error was positively correlated with the activity of the left hippocampus, mid-temporal area, and left posterior cingulate area in participants with ASD. Conclusion These results suggest that disembodiment-related brain activation might be easily manifested by the interaction between perspective-shifting and the experience of agency, and that interoceptive abilities might be related to disembodiment-related brain activation in individuals with ASD.

Objective: Many studies have explored sense of self in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, few have reported on their experience of “disembodiment.” This study aimed to investigate the differences in brain activity between patients with ASD and neurotypicals (NTs) under conditions causing disembodiment and to examine the correlation between their interoceptive abilities and disembodiment-related brain activity. Methods: 18 Participants with ASD and 21 NTs completed psychological evaluations, interoceptive abilities measurement, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The fMRI images were taken while the participants performed tasks involving ball-throwing animations. The task focused on either self-agency related to ball-throwing (Agency Task) or the spatial location of a ball (Location Task). The animations were presented from constantly changing perspective (Changing View) or fixed perspective (Fixed View). The disembodiment-related condition was the interaction between the Agency Task and Changing View. Results: Participants with ASD exhibited higher activation than NTs in regions near the left parieto-temporo-occipital junction, left precuneus, left hippocampus, and other brain areas. Furthermore, interoceptive accuracy was negatively correlated with the activity of the left superior parietal and posterior midcingulate areas, whereas interoceptive trait prediction error was positively correlated with the activity of the left hippocampus, mid-temporal area, and left posterior cingulate area in participants with ASD. Conclusion These results suggest that disembodiment-related brain activation might be easily manifested by the interaction between perspective-shifting and the experience of agency, and that interoceptive abilities might be related to disembodiment-related brain activation in individuals with ASD.

Objectives: ：This study aims to confirm the effectiveness of a school-based very-short-term dialectical be-havior therapy-skills training (DBT-ST) program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents, considering factors such as age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Methods: ：The study was conducted from September 2021 to December 2023, targeting 1,012 elementary and middle school students in the Chungcheong region. Changes in responses to the Depressed Mood Questionnaire(RDQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16), ‘future self-harm possibility’ scores wereanalyzed and compared before and after the program, based on age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Results: ：Overall, participants showed a decrease in the ‘rumination(RDQ) scale’ (t=10.49, p<0.001), ‘reversescored distraction (RDQ)’ (t=10.67, p<0.001) and the total DERS-16 (t=5.56, p<0.001) as well as a decrease in ‘future self-harm possibility’ score (t=4.26, p<0.001). Both elementary and middle school students showed decrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’ and distraction (RDQ), but only middle school students showed a decrease in theDERS-16 and most sub-scales. Regardless of sex, self-harm history, or methods of program implementation, adecrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’, distraction (RDQ) and the total DERS-16 scale and most sub-scales decreased. Conclusions ：Our program appears to be effective as a primary prevention program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents in a school setting.

Objectives: ：This study aims to confirm the effectiveness of a school-based very-short-term dialectical be-havior therapy-skills training (DBT-ST) program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents, considering factors such as age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Methods: ：The study was conducted from September 2021 to December 2023, targeting 1,012 elementary and middle school students in the Chungcheong region. Changes in responses to the Depressed Mood Questionnaire(RDQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16), ‘future self-harm possibility’ scores wereanalyzed and compared before and after the program, based on age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Results: ：Overall, participants showed a decrease in the ‘rumination(RDQ) scale’ (t=10.49, p<0.001), ‘reversescored distraction (RDQ)’ (t=10.67, p<0.001) and the total DERS-16 (t=5.56, p<0.001) as well as a decrease in ‘future self-harm possibility’ score (t=4.26, p<0.001). Both elementary and middle school students showed decrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’ and distraction (RDQ), but only middle school students showed a decrease in theDERS-16 and most sub-scales. Regardless of sex, self-harm history, or methods of program implementation, adecrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’, distraction (RDQ) and the total DERS-16 scale and most sub-scales decreased. Conclusions ：Our program appears to be effective as a primary prevention program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents in a school setting.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the demographic characteristics, responses to negative emotions, and difficulties in emotion regulation between self-harming adolescents and control individuals aged 12–14 years from the community. Methods: Data were collected from adolescents in Chungcheong Province, South Korea, between September 2021 and November 2022.Demographic characteristics and responses to the Depressed Mood Questionnaire and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16) were compared between the self-harm and control groups. Results: The self-harm group exhibited a higher prevalence of child abuse (odds ratio [OR]=4.787, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.591– 14.409, p=0.005) and school bullying victimization (OR=4.495, 95% CI=2.353–8.588, p<0.001) than those in the control group. The selfharm group displayed higher levels of rumination (t=7.88, p<0.001) and reduced distraction responses (reverse score t=2.25, p=0.025) than those of the control group. Additionally, the self-harm group scored higher on all subscales and the total DERS-16 score (t=7.61, p<0.001). Conclusion Interventions for self-harming adolescents should address child abuse and bullying victimization. Prevention programs for self-harming adolescents should focus on reducing rumination responses, increasing distractive responses, and addressing difficulties in emotion regulation using dialectical behavior therapy-skill training.

With the world becoming increasingly affluent in terms of material wealth, individuals’ mental health appears to be lagging. “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence” offers a new perspective on the meaning of addiction and its solutions in modern society with disparities. This book discusses addiction from the perspective of the balance between pain and pleasure. However, it also offers insights into the mindsets of modern humans, going far beyond the boundaries of addiction.

Objectives: In this functional magnetic resonance imaging study, we aimed to investigate the differences in brain activation between individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) individuals during perspective taking. We also examined the association between brain activation and empathic and interoceptive abilities. Methods: During scanning, participants from the ASD (n=17) and TD (n=22) groups were shown pain stimuli and asked to rate the level of the observed pain from both self- and other-perspectives. Empathic abilities, including perspective taking, were measured using an empathic questionnaire, and three dimensions of interoception were assessed: interoceptive accuracy, interoceptive sensibility, and interoceptive trait prediction errors. Results: During self-perspective taking, the ASD group exhibited greater activation in the left precuneus than the TD group. During other-perspective taking, relative hyperactivation extended to areas including the right precuneus, right superior frontal gyrus, left caudate nucleus, and left amygdala. Brain activation levels in the right superior frontal gyrus while taking other-perspective were negatively correlated with interoceptive accuracy, and those in the left caudate were negatively correlated with perspective taking ability in the ASD group. Conclusion Individuals with ASD show atypical brain activation during perspective taking. Notably, their brain regions associated with stress reactions and escape responses are overactivated when taking other-perspective. This overactivity is related to poor interoceptive accuracy, suggesting that individuals with ASD may experience difficulties with the self-other distinction or atypical embodiment when considering another person’s perspective.

Objectives: ：This study aims to confirm the effectiveness of a school-based very-short-term dialectical be-havior therapy-skills training (DBT-ST) program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents, considering factors such as age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Methods: ：The study was conducted from September 2021 to December 2023, targeting 1,012 elementary and middle school students in the Chungcheong region. Changes in responses to the Depressed Mood Questionnaire(RDQ), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-16 (DERS-16), ‘future self-harm possibility’ scores wereanalyzed and compared before and after the program, based on age, sex, self-harm history, and methods of program implementation. Results: ：Overall, participants showed a decrease in the ‘rumination(RDQ) scale’ (t=10.49, p<0.001), ‘reversescored distraction (RDQ)’ (t=10.67, p<0.001) and the total DERS-16 (t=5.56, p<0.001) as well as a decrease in ‘future self-harm possibility’ score (t=4.26, p<0.001). Both elementary and middle school students showed decrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’ and distraction (RDQ), but only middle school students showed a decrease in theDERS-16 and most sub-scales. Regardless of sex, self-harm history, or methods of program implementation, adecrease in ’rumination (RDQ)’, distraction (RDQ) and the total DERS-16 scale and most sub-scales decreased. Conclusions ：Our program appears to be effective as a primary prevention program for preventing self-harm among children and adolescents in a school setting.