Sensitivity to changes in rate of heartbeats as a measure of interoceptive ability
Dennis E O Larsson, Giulia Esposito, Hugo Critchley, Zoltán Dienes, Sarah N. Garfinkel
Abstract
This study presents a new method for evaluating cardiac interoceptive ability, measuring sensitivity to naturalistic changes in the number of heartbeats over time periods. Results show participants have an overall tendency toward sensing fewer heartbeats during higher heart rates. This likely reflects the influence of changing heartbeat strength on cardiac interoception at rest, which should be taken into account when evaluating cardiac interoceptive ability and its relationship to anxiety and psychosomatic conditions.
Topics & Concepts
InteroceptionHeartbeatHeart rateAnxietyPsychologySensitivity (control systems)AudiologyNeuroscienceMedicineInternal medicineBlood pressurePerceptionComputer sciencePsychiatryElectronic engineeringComputer securityEngineeringPsychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesMental Health and Psychiatry