The Effects of a 3-Week Heartbeat Perception Training on Interoceptive Abilities

Abstract

Recent studies showed promising short-term effects of heartbeat perception training on interoceptive abilities. Research on the effects of heartbeat perception training on interoceptive abilities over time is sparse. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the short-term effects and the effects of a 3-week heartbeat perception training over time on interoceptive abilities, namely, cardiac interoceptive accuracy (IAc) and interoceptive sensibility (IS). A total of 40 healthy participants were randomized to the intervention group (n = 20) or the control group (n = 20). The intervention group conducted three cardiac biofeedback sessions (one per week) at the laboratory, whereas the control group watched a documentary instead. Interoceptive abilities were assessed via the heartbeat perception task (IAc) and confidence ratings (IS) at baseline, after each laboratory session, and 1 week after the last session (post-measurement). IAc was significantly increased in the intervention group compared to the control group after the first training session (short-term effect). There were no significant improvements in IS due to the first session, and neither on IAc nor IS over time. Descriptive trends of improved interoceptive abilities over time were found in both groups. Single session of heartbeat perception training seems to be a promising approach to improve IAc. Future research should further investigate the long-term effects of diverse heartbeat perception training varying in frequency and intensity of the training sessions in diverse samples aiming to improve interoceptive abilities.

Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation modulates the processing of interoceptive prediction error signals and their role in allostatic regulation

“…These changes were also unrelated to interindividual differences in IAcc: the IAcc increase was not associated with baseline levels of IAcc (Supplementary Material S4). This reduction, is, however, in line with previous studies observing a reduction in IAcc with time, unless manipulations to increase the internal focus of attention (e.g., providing feedback about the performance) are carried out (Quadt et al, 2021;Schillings et al, 2022). Importantly, our findings concord with recent reports on the effects of taVNS on IAcc.…”

Training interoceptive awareness with real-time haptic vs. visual heartbeat feedback

“…In contrast with previous studies (Meyerholz et al, 2019;Schillings et al, 2022) The observed superiority of naturalistic haptic vs. visual feedback can also be explained within the context of the concept and theory of predictive coding (Apps & Tsakiris, 2014;Owens et al, 2018).…”

“…Using this procedure, they showed improved heartbeat perception, but moreover, their findings indicated a link between lower cardioceptive accuracy and greater symptom severity in sufferers of these disorders. Several studies have since employed similar cardiac biofeedback methods based on visual feedback by way of a symbolic representation of a heart, such as Meyerholz et al (2019), Schillings et al (2022) showing increased cardioceptive awareness following the training (Meyerholz et al, 2019; Schillings et al, 2022). Besides improving interoception, cardioceptive training has been shown to decrease anxiety in autistic adults (Quadt et al, 2021).…”

A chatbot-based intervention with ELME to improve stress and health-related parameters in a stressed sample: Study protocol of a randomised controlled trial

“…Moreover, several studies showed that interoceptive abilities are associated with emotional abilities (e.g., 22,23) and that they are impaired in diverse mental disorders such as anorexia nervosa (e.g., 24), depression (e.g., 25), or schizophrenia (26). An increasing body of research indicates that interoceptive abilities can be trained, for example, via mindfulness-based interventions (e.g., 27,28), bodyfocused training such as power posing (29), or heartbeat perception training (30,31). So far, online interventions to improve interoceptive abilities are sparse.…”

“…An ongoing study (32) investigates the effects of a guided online mindfulness-based intervention on stress, interoceptive abilities and further health-related parameters. Integrating such trainings into everyday life might be a promising approach (31).…”