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Béquet AJ, Jallais C, Quick J, Ndiaye D, Hidalgo-Muñoz AR. Road to serenity: Individual variations in the efficacy of unobtrusive respiratory guidance for driving stress regulation. APPLIED ERGONOMICS 2024; 120:104334. [PMID: 38876002 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2024.104334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Stress impacts driving-related cognitive functions like attention and decision-making, and may arise in automated vehicles due to non-driving tasks. Unobtrusive relaxation techniques are needed to regulate stress without distracting from driving. Tactile wearables have shown efficacy in stress regulation through respiratory guidance, but individual variations may affect their efficacy. This study assessed slow-breathing tactile guidance under different stress levels on 85 participants. Physiological, behavioral and subjective data were collected. The influence of individual variations (e.g., driving habits and behavior, personality) using logistic regression analysis was explored. Participants could follow the guidance and adjust breathing while driving, but subjective efficacy depended on individual variations linked to different efficiency in using the technique, in relation with its attentional cost. An influence of factors linked to the evaluation of context criticality was also found. The results suggest that considering individual and contextual variations is crucial in designing and using such techniques in demanding driving contexts. In this line some design recommendations and insights for further studies are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Béquet
- Laboratory Ergonomics and Cognitive Sciences Applied to Transport, TS2-LESCOT Univ Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, Univ Lyon, F-69675, Lyon, France.
| | - C Jallais
- Laboratory Ergonomics and Cognitive Sciences Applied to Transport, TS2-LESCOT Univ Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, Univ Lyon, F-69675, Lyon, France
| | - J Quick
- Laboratory Ergonomics and Cognitive Sciences Applied to Transport, TS2-LESCOT Univ Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, Univ Lyon, F-69675, Lyon, France
| | - D Ndiaye
- Laboratory Ergonomics and Cognitive Sciences Applied to Transport, TS2-LESCOT Univ Gustave Eiffel, IFSTTAR, Univ Lyon, F-69675, Lyon, France
| | - A R Hidalgo-Muñoz
- Institute of Neuroscience of Castilla y León (INCYL), University of Salamanca, Spain
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2
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Li X, Peng C, Qin F, Luo Q, Ren Z, Wang X, Feng Q, Liu C, Li Y, Wei D, Qiu J. Basolateral Amygdala Functional Connectivity in Alexithymia: Linking Interoceptive Sensibility and Cognitive Empathy. Neuroscience 2024; 539:12-20. [PMID: 38176608 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Emotions rely on bodily states, and perceiving the emotions of others depends on awareness of one's own emotional state. However, the intercorrelations among interoception, alexithymia, and empathy are not well understood, and the neural mechanisms behind this connection are also largely unknown. To address these issues, 297 college students participated in this study, completing measures of interoceptive sensibility (IS), empathy and alexithymia and undergoing resting-state fMRI scans. The functional connectivity of the amygdala was analysed to identify the neural substrates of alexithymia, and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the mediation effect of alexithymia and alexithymia-specific amygdala functional connectivity on the relationship between IS and empathy. The results showed that higher levels of IS were associated with increased cognitive empathy through weakened alexithymia. Functional connectivity analysis indicated that right basolateral amygdala (BLA)-left precuneus connectivity was negatively related to alexithymia, while right BLA-left precentral gyrus connectivity was positively related to alexithymia. Furthermore, right BLA-left precuneus connectivity was found to mediate the impact of interoception on cognitive empathy. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the relationships among IS, alexithymia, and empathy. The right BLA-left precuneus connectivity may serve as a shared neural substrate between interoception and cognitive empathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianrui Li
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Chuyao Peng
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Facai Qin
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qian Luo
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zhiting Ren
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xueyang Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qiuyang Feng
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Cheng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Dongtao Wei
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China; Southwest University Branch, Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment, Toward Basic Education Quality at Beijing Normal University, China.
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3
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Vabba A, Panasiti MS, Scattolin M, Spitaleri M, Porciello G, Aglioti SM. The thermoception task: a thermal imaging-based procedure for measuring awareness of changes in peripheral body temperature. J Neurophysiol 2023; 130:1053-1064. [PMID: 37529855 PMCID: PMC10635420 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00014.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Although thermal body signals provide crucial information about the state of an organism and changes in body temperature may be a sign of affective states (e.g., stress, pain, sexual arousal), research on thermal awareness is limited. Here we developed a task measuring awareness of changes in peripheral body temperature (thermal interoception) and compared it to the classical heartbeat counting task (cardiac interoception). With an infrared light bulb we delivered stimuli of different temperature intensities to the right hand of 31 healthy participants. Thermal interoceptive accuracy, i.e., the difference between participants' real and perceived change in hand temperature, showed good interindividual variability. We found that thermal interoception did not correlate with (and was generally higher than) cardiac interoception, suggesting that different interceptive channels provide separate contributions to awareness of bodily states. Moreover, the results hint at the great salience of thermal signals and the need for thermoregulation in day-to-day life. Finally, thermal interoceptive accuracy was associated with self-reported awareness of body temperature changes and with the ability to regulate distress by focusing on body sensations. Our task has the potential to significantly increase current knowledge about the role of interoception in cognition and behavior, particularly in social and emotional contexts.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We developed a novel task measuring awareness of changes in peripheral body temperature (i.e., thermal interoception). To avoid tactile confounds present in existing thermoceptive tasks, we used an infrared light bulb to deliver stimuli of different temperature intensities to the hand of participants and asked them to judge the perceived change in their hand temperature. Performance in the task showed good interindividual variability, did not correlate with cardiac interoceptive tasks, and was associated with self-reported thermosensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisha Vabba
- Sapienza University of Rome and CLN2S@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Serena Panasiti
- IRCCS, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Scattolin
- Sapienza University of Rome and CLN2S@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Spitaleri
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Porciello
- IRCCS, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Maria Aglioti
- Sapienza University of Rome and CLN2S@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS, Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy
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Campos C, Rocha NB, Barbosa F. Dissociating cognitive and affective empathy across psychopathy dimensions: The role of interoception and alexithymia. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1082965. [PMID: 37457066 PMCID: PMC10345207 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1082965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
This study examined the associations between psychopathy dimensions (triarchic phenotypes and classical factors), empathy domains (cognitive and affective), and interoception (interoceptive attention and accuracy) while accounting for the putative role of alexithymia. A community sample (n = 515) completed an online survey encompassing: Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (boldness, meanness, disinhibition); Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (primary and secondary psychopathy); Body Perception Questionnaire (interoceptive attention); Interoceptive Accuracy Scale; Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Hierarchical linear regression models were implemented for hypothesis-driven analyses examining the associations between psychopathy, empathy, and interoception while controlling for sex, age, and alexithymia. Exploratory path models were employed to investigate alexithymia and/or cognitive empathy as mediators between interoception and psychopathy. Our results largely confirmed the postulated empathy profiles across psychopathy dimensions, as meanness and primary psychopathy displayed a broad empathy impairment, while disinhibition and secondary psychopathy were only associated with diminished cognitive empathy. Importantly, boldness displayed a unique pattern (enhanced cognitive empathy and reduced affective empathy), further reinforcing its importance within the constellation of psychopathy traits. Contrary to our hypotheses, self-perceived interoceptive attention and accuracy were not associated with either psychopathy dimension after controlling for alexithymia. However, interoceptive accuracy and alexithymia were associated with cognitive empathy, while alexithymia was also positively related to all psychopathy dimensions (as expected), despite the unexpected strong and negative association with boldness. Exploratory analyses suggested significant indirect effects (mediation) between interoceptive accuracy and psychopathy via alexithymia and/or cognitive empathy. These mediating effects must be interpreted with caution and future studies should be designed to formally test this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Campos
- Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Neurocognition Group|LabRP, School of Health, Center for Rehabilitation Research, Polytechnic University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Barbosa Rocha
- School of Health, Center for Translational Health and Medical Biotechnology Research, Polytechnic University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Fernando Barbosa
- Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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Hazelton JL, Fittipaldi S, Fraile-Vazquez M, Sourty M, Legaz A, Hudson AL, Cordero IG, Salamone PC, Yoris A, Ibañez A, Piguet O, Kumfor F. Thinking versus feeling: How interoception and cognition influence emotion recognition in behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Cortex 2023; 163:66-79. [PMID: 37075507 PMCID: PMC11177281 DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2023.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Disease-specific mechanisms underlying emotion recognition difficulties in behavioural-variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD) are unknown. Interoceptive accuracy, accurately detecting internal cues (e.g., one's heart beating), and cognitive abilities are candidate mechanisms underlying emotion recognition. One hundred and sixty-eight participants (52 bvFTD; 41 AD; 24 PD; 51 controls) were recruited. Emotion recognition was measured via the Facial Affect Selection Task or the Mini-Social and Emotional Assessment Emotion Recognition Task. Interoception was assessed with a heartbeat detection task. Participants pressed a button each time they: 1) felt their heartbeat (Interoception); or 2) heard a recorded heartbeat (Exteroception-control). Cognition was measured via the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-III or the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Voxel-based morphometry analyses identified neural correlates associated with emotion recognition and interoceptive accuracy. All patient groups showed worse emotion recognition and cognition than controls (all P's ≤ .008). Only the bvFTD showed worse interoceptive accuracy than controls (P < .001). Regression analyses revealed that in bvFTD worse interoceptive accuracy predicted worse emotion recognition (P = .008). Whereas worse cognition predicted worse emotion recognition overall (P < .001). Neuroimaging analyses revealed that the insula, orbitofrontal cortex, and amygdala were involved in emotion recognition and interoceptive accuracy in bvFTD. Here, we provide evidence for disease-specific mechanisms for emotion recognition difficulties. In bvFTD, emotion recognition impairment is driven by inaccurate perception of the internal milieu. Whereas, in AD and PD, cognitive impairment likely underlies emotion recognition deficits. The current study furthers our theoretical understanding of emotion and highlights the need for targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Hazelton
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, Australia; The University of Sydney, Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sol Fittipaldi
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC) Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina; Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Matias Fraile-Vazquez
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC) Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marion Sourty
- The University of Sydney, Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, Australia; The University of Sydney, School of Engineering, Sydney, Australia
| | - Agustina Legaz
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC) Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Anna L Hudson
- Flinders University, College of Medicine and Public Health, Adelaide, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Sydney, Australia; The University of New South Wales, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney, Australia
| | - Indira Garcia Cordero
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC) Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Paula C Salamone
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Adrian Yoris
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustín Ibañez
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center (CNC) Universidad de San Andres, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Latin American Brain Health Institute (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile; Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, USA; Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Dublin, Ireland
| | - Olivier Piguet
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, Australia; The University of Sydney, Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, Australia
| | - Fiona Kumfor
- The University of Sydney, School of Psychology, Sydney, Australia; The University of Sydney, Brain & Mind Centre, Sydney, Australia.
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6
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Martínez-Pernía D, Cea I, Troncoso A, Blanco K, Calderón Vergara J, Baquedano C, Araya-Veliz C, Useros-Olmo A, Huepe D, Carrera V, Mack Silva V, Vergara M. "I am feeling tension in my whole body": An experimental phenomenological study of empathy for pain. Front Psychol 2023; 13:999227. [PMID: 36687843 PMCID: PMC9845790 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.999227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Traditionally, empathy has been studied from two main perspectives: the theory-theory approach and the simulation theory approach. These theories claim that social emotions are fundamentally constituted by mind states in the brain. In contrast, classical phenomenology and recent research based on the enactive theories consider empathy as the basic process of contacting others' emotional experiences through direct bodily perception and sensation. Objective This study aims to enrich the knowledge of the empathic experience of pain using an experimental phenomenological method. Materials and methods Implementing an experimental paradigm used in affective neuroscience, we exposed 28 healthy adults to a video of sportspersons suffering physical accidents while practicing extreme sports. Immediately after watching the video, each participant underwent a phenomenological interview to gather data on embodied, multi-layered dimensions (bodily sensations, emotions, and motivations) and temporal aspects of empathic experience. We also performed quantitative analyses of the phenomenological categories. Results Experiential access to the other person's painful experience involves four main themes. Bodily resonance: participants felt a multiplicity of bodily, affective, and kinesthetic sensations in coordination with the sportsperson's bodily actions. Attentional focus: some participants centered their attention more on their own personal discomfort and sensations of rejection, while others on the pain and suffering experienced by the sportspersons. Kinesthetic motivation: some participants experienced the feeling in their bodies to avoid or escape from watching the video, while others experienced the need to help the sportspersons avoid suffering any injury while practicing extreme sports. The temporality of experience: participants witnessed temporal fluctuations in their experiences, bringing intensity changes in their bodily resonance, attentional focus, and kinesthetic motivation. Finally, two experiential structures were found: one structure is self-centered empathic experience, characterized by bodily resonance, attentional focus centered on the participant's own experience of seeing the sportsperson suffering, and self-protective kinesthetic motivation; the other structure is other-centered empathic experience, characterized by bodily resonance, attentional focus centered on the sportsperson, and prosocial kinesthetic motivation to help them. Discussion We show how phenomenological data may contribute to comprehending empathy for pain in social neuroscience. In addition, we address the phenomenological aspect of the enactive approach to the three dimensions of an embodiment of human consciousness, especially the intersubjective dimension. Also, based on our results, we suggest an extension of the enactive theory of non-interactive social experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Martínez-Pernía
- School of Psychology, Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile,Faculty of Medicine, Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism (GERO), University of Chile, Santiago, Chile,Faculty of Medicine, Memory and Neuropsychiatric Clinic (CMYN), Neurology Service, Hospital del Salvador, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile,*Correspondence: David Martínez-Pernía,
| | - Ignacio Cea
- School of Psychology, Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile,Philosophy Department, Faculty of Philosophy and Humanities, Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alejandro Troncoso
- School of Psychology, Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Kevin Blanco
- School of Psychology, Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge Calderón Vergara
- School of Psychology, Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Constanza Baquedano
- School of Psychology, Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Ana Useros-Olmo
- Unidad de Daño Cerebral, Hospital Beata María Ana, Madrid, Spain,Departamento de Fisioterapia and Motion in Brains Research Group, Institute of Neuroscience and Sciences of the Movement (INCIMOV), Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Huepe
- School of Psychology, Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Valentina Carrera
- School of Psychology, Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Victoria Mack Silva
- School of Psychology, Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mayte Vergara
- School of Psychology, Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
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The bodily fundament of empathy: The role of action, nonaction-oriented, and interoceptive body representations. Psychon Bull Rev 2022:10.3758/s13423-022-02231-9. [PMID: 36510091 DOI: 10.3758/s13423-022-02231-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mental representations with bodily contents or in various bodily formats have been suggested to play a pivotal role in social cognition, including empathy. However, there is a lack of systematic studies investigating, in the same sample of participants and using an individual differences approach, whether and to what extent the sensorimotor, perceptual, and interoceptive representations of the body could fulfill an explanatory role in the empathic abilities.To address this goal, we carried out two studies in which healthy adults were given measures of interoceptive sensibility (IS), action (aBR), and nonaction-oriented body representations (NaBR), and affective, cognitive, and motor empathy. A higher tendency to be self-focused on interoceptive signals predicted higher affective, cognitive, and motor empathy levels. A better performance in tasks probing aBR and NaBR predicted, respectively, higher motor and cognitive empathy levels.These findings support the view that the various facets of the empathic response are differently grounded in the body since they diversely involve representations with a different bodily format.Individual differences in the focus on one's internal body state representation can directly modulate all the components of the empathic experience. Instead, a body representation used interpersonally to represent both one's own body and others' bodies, in particular in its spatial specificity, could be necessary to accurately understand other people's minds (cognitive empathy), while a sensorimotor body representation used to represent both one's own body and others' bodies actions, could be fundamental for the self-awareness of feelings expressed in actions (motor empathy).
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8
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Hübner AM, Trempler I, Schubotz RI. Interindividual differences in interoception modulate behavior and brain responses in emotional inference. Neuroimage 2022; 261:119524. [PMID: 35907498 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2022.119524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Emotional experiences are proposed to arise from contextualized perception of bodily responses, also referred to as interoceptive inferences. The recognition of emotions benefits from adequate access to one's own interoceptive information. However, direct empirical evidence of interoceptive inferences and their neural basis is still lacking. In the present fMRI study healthy volunteers performed a probabilistic emotion classification task with videotaped dynamically unfolding facial expressions. In a first step, we aimed to determine functional areas involved in the processing of dynamically unfolding emotional expressions. We then tested whether individuals with higher interoceptive accuracy (IAcc), as assessed by the Heartbeat detection task (HDT), or higher interoceptive sensitivity (IS), as assessed by the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness, Version 2 (MAIA-2), benefit more from the contextually given likelihood of emotional valence and whether brain regions reflecting individual IAcc and/or IS play a role in this. Individuals with higher IS benefitted more from the biased probability of emotional valence. Brain responses to more predictable emotions elicited a bilateral activity pattern comprising the inferior frontal gyrus and the posterior insula. Importantly, individual IAcc scores positively covaried with brain responses to more surprising and less predictable emotional expressions in the insula and caudate nucleus. We show for the first time that IAcc score is associated with enhanced processing of interoceptive prediction errors, particularly in the anterior insula. A higher IS score seems more likely to be associated with a stronger weighting of attention to interoceptive changes processed by the posterior insula and ventral prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ima Trempler
- Department of Psychology, University of Muenster, Germany; Otto-Creutzfeldt-Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Germany
| | - Ricarda I Schubotz
- Department of Psychology, University of Muenster, Germany; Otto-Creutzfeldt-Center for Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Muenster, Germany
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9
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Kamalian A, Khodadadifar T, Saberi A, Masoudi M, Camilleri JA, Eickhoff CR, Zarei M, Pasquini L, Laird AR, Fox PT, Eickhoff SB, Tahmasian M. Convergent regional brain abnormalities in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia: A neuroimaging meta-analysis of 73 studies. ALZHEIMER'S & DEMENTIA (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 14:e12318. [PMID: 35664889 PMCID: PMC9148620 DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Numerous studies have reported brain alterations in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, they pointed to inconsistent findings. Methods We used a meta‐analytic approach to identify the convergent structural and functional brain abnormalities in bvFTD. Following current best‐practice neuroimaging meta‐analysis guidelines, we searched PubMed and Embase databases and performed reference tracking. Then, the coordinates of group comparisons between bvFTD and controls from 73 studies were extracted and tested for convergence using activation likelihood estimation. Results We identified convergent abnormalities in the anterior cingulate cortices, anterior insula, amygdala, paracingulate, striatum, and hippocampus. Task‐based and resting‐state functional connectivity pointed to the networks that are connected to the obtained consistent regions. Functional decoding analyses suggested associated dysfunction of emotional processing, interoception, reward processing, higher‐order cognitive functions, and olfactory and gustatory perceptions in bvFTD. Discussion Our findings highlighted the key role of the salience network and subcortical regions in the pathophysiology of bvFTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Kamalian
- School of Medicine Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Tina Khodadadifar
- School of Cognitive Sciences Institute for Research in Fundamental Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Amin Saberi
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Brain and Behavior (INM-7) Research Center Jülich Jülich Germany.,Institute for Systems Neuroscience Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Maryam Masoudi
- School of Medicine Tehran University of Medical Sciences Tehran Iran
| | - Julia A Camilleri
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Brain and Behavior (INM-7) Research Center Jülich Jülich Germany.,Institute for Systems Neuroscience Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Claudia R Eickhoff
- Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany.,Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Research Center Jülich Structural and Functional Organisation of the Brain (INM-1) Jülich Germany
| | - Mojtaba Zarei
- Institute of Medical Science and Technology Shahid Beheshti University Tehran Iran
| | - Lorenzo Pasquini
- Department of Neurology Memory and Aging Center University of California-San Francisco San Francisco California USA
| | - Angela R Laird
- Department of Physics Florida International University Miami Florida USA
| | - Peter T Fox
- Research Imaging Institute University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio Texas USA.,South Texas Veterans Health Care System San Antonio Texas USA
| | - Simon B Eickhoff
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Brain and Behavior (INM-7) Research Center Jülich Jülich Germany.,Institute for Systems Neuroscience Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
| | - Masoud Tahmasian
- Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine Brain and Behavior (INM-7) Research Center Jülich Jülich Germany.,Institute for Systems Neuroscience Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf Düsseldorf Germany
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10
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Yang HX, Hu HX, Zhang YJ, Wang Y, Lui SSY, Chan RCK. A network analysis of interoception, self-awareness, empathy, alexithymia, and autistic traits. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022; 272:199-209. [PMID: 33987711 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-021-01274-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Altered interoception has been consistently found in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and this impairment may contribute to social cognitive dysfunctions. However, little is known regarding the intercorrelations between interoceptive sensibility, autistic, alexithymic, empathic, and self-related traits. We recruited 1360 non-clinical college students and adults to investigate the complex inter-relationship between these variables using network analysis. The resultant network revealed patterns connecting autistic traits to interoceptive sensibility, empathy, alexithymia, and self-awareness, with reasonable stability and test-retest consistency. The node of alexithymia exhibited the highest centrality and expected influence. As revealed by the network comparison test, networks constructed in high- and low-autistic subgroups were comparable in global strength and structure. Our findings suggested that alexithymia serves as an important node, bridging interoceptive deficits, self-awareness, and empathic impairments of autism spectrum disorder. The co-morbidity of alexithymia should be considered carefully in future studies of interoceptive impairments and social deficits in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Xue Yang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, 16 Lincui Road, Beijing, 100101, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hui-Xin Hu
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, 16 Lincui Road, Beijing, 100101, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi-Jing Zhang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, 16 Lincui Road, Beijing, 100101, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, 16 Lincui Road, Beijing, 100101, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Simon S Y Lui
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong, China
| | - Raymond C K Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, 16 Lincui Road, Beijing, 100101, China. .,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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11
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Yang HX, Zhou HY, Li Y, Cui YH, Xiang Y, Yuan RM, Lui SSY, Chan RCK. Decreased interoceptive accuracy in children with autism spectrum disorder and with comorbid attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Autism Res 2022; 15:729-739. [PMID: 35088528 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Interoception refers to the awareness of internal physiological state. Several previous studies reported that people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have diverse patterns of interoception, but the extent of literature is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the interoceptive accuracy (IA) in children with ASD, children with comorbid ASD and ADHD, and typically developing (TD) children with high and low levels of autistic traits. We administered the eye-tracking interoceptive accuracy task (EIAT) to 30 children with ASD, 20 children with comorbid ASD and ADHD, and 63 TD controls with high and low levels of autistic traits. Parent-report scales concerning ASD and ADHD symptoms were collected. ASD children with and without comorbid ADHD both exhibited lower IA than TD children. Reduced IA was also found in TD children with high-autistic traits relative to those with low-autistic traits. IA was negatively correlated with autistic and ADHD symptoms. Atypical cardiac interoception could be found in children with ASD. Difficulties in sensing and comprehending internal bodily signals in childhood may be related to both ASD and ADHD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Xue Yang
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Han-Yu Zhou
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Psychological Crisis Intervention, School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Li
- Psychiatry Department, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Yong-Hua Cui
- Psychiatry Department, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Centre for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Xiang
- Research Center for Mental Health Education, Beijing Institute of Education Shijingshan Branch, Beijing, China
| | - Rong-Man Yuan
- Primary School of Jingyuan, Jingyuan School, Beijing, China
| | - Simon S Y Lui
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Raymond C K Chan
- Neuropsychology and Applied Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory, CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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12
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Modzelewska A, Imbir KK. Interoceptive awareness and beliefs about health and the body as predictors of the intensity of emotions experienced at the beginning of the pandemic. PeerJ 2022; 9:e12542. [PMID: 35036120 PMCID: PMC8706328 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic is a type of stressful event which might have an impact on psychological state. A prolonged threat of getting a serious, contagious illness is expected to be associated with an increase of negative emotions and, conversely, with a decrease of positive emotions. As the stressor is strongly linked to health and the body, we decided to investigate what types of factors related to body perception and appraisal are associated with different types of reported emotions. The purpose of the study was to verify the associations between three types of variables: interoceptive awareness as described by Mehling and colleagues (2012a, 2018), negative beliefs about health and body, and different types of emotions. Methodology A Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness questionnaire was applied to evaluate interoceptive awareness. The declared emotional state was diagnosed with a list of 20 emotions-divided by valence and origin. Additionally, a list of 10 negative beliefs about health and body was used. The study was held in a correlational schema with 299 subjects recruited via the social media platform Facebook who took part in an online survey. Results The study revealed that the scales of Self-Regulation and Trusting are primarily associated with negative automatic and reflective emotions and positive automatic emotions. Furthermore, the Self-Regulation, Trusting dimensions of interoceptive awareness predict an intensity of emotions categorised on the basis of valence and origin. In addition, negative beliefs about health and the body provided an adequate explanation of the variance of most of the types of emotions experienced during the pandemic. Conclusions Factors related to body perception, such as interoceptive awareness and negative beliefs about health and body provide a significant contribution to explaining emotional state at the beginning of the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kamil K Imbir
- Faculty of Psychology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Masovian, Poland
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13
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Angioletti L, Balconi M. Interoceptive attentiveness and autonomic reactivity in pain observation. Somatosens Mot Res 2021; 39:81-89. [PMID: 34847833 DOI: 10.1080/08990220.2021.2005016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Aim: This study explores interoceptive attentiveness (IA) influence on autonomic reactivity related to pain and self-regulation during situations evoking physiological mirroring for pain.Methods: 20 participants observed face/hand, painful/non-painful stimuli in an individual versus social condition while the autonomic response was measured [Electrodermal activity, Pulse Volume Amplitude (PVA), and Heart Rate (HR)] was measured. The sample was divided into experimental (EXP) subjects, required to focus on their interoceptive correlates while observing the stimuli, and the control (CNT) group. HR inter-beat interval (IBI), and HR Variability (HRV) were calculated.Results: Results showed high accuracy to painful and non-painful stimuli recognition. Regarding autonomic indices, higher PVA values were detected for hand painful versus non-painful stimuli, whereas for the EXP group a significant activation of IBI was found for face painful vs non-painful stimuli.Conclusion: In the context of observation of pain in others, PVA and IBI could be respectively markers of mirroring mechanisms and autonomic self-regulation mediated by IA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Angioletti
- International Research Center for Cognitive Applied Neuroscience (IrcCAN), Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy.,Research Unit in Affective and Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Balconi
- International Research Center for Cognitive Applied Neuroscience (IrcCAN), Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy.,Research Unit in Affective and Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
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14
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Abrevaya S, Fittipaldi S, García AM, Dottori M, Santamaria-Garcia H, Birba A, Yoris A, Hildebrandt MK, Salamone P, De la Fuente A, Alarco-Martí S, García-Cordero I, Matorrel-Caro M, Pautassi RM, Serrano C, Sedeño L, Ibáñez A. At the Heart of Neurological Dimensionality: Cross-Nosological and Multimodal Cardiac Interoceptive Deficits. Psychosom Med 2021; 82:850-861. [PMID: 33003072 PMCID: PMC7647435 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000000868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neurological nosology, based on categorical systems, has largely ignored dimensional aspects of neurocognitive impairments. Transdiagnostic dimensional approaches of interoception (the sensing of visceral signals) may improve the descriptions of cross-pathological symptoms at behavioral, electrophysiological, and anatomical levels. Alterations of cardiac interoception (encompassing multidimensional variables such as accuracy, learning, sensibility, and awareness) and its neural correlates (electrophysiological markers, imaging-based anatomical and functional connectivity) have been proposed as critical across disparate neurological disorders. However, no study has examined the specific impact of neural (relative to autonomic) disturbances of cardiac interoception or their differential manifestations across neurological conditions. METHODS Here, we used a computational approach to classify and evaluate which markers of cardiac interoception (behavioral, metacognitive, electrophysiological, volumetric, or functional) offer the best discrimination between neurological conditions and cardiac (hypertensive) disease (model 1), and among neurological conditions (Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia, multiple sclerosis, and brain stroke; model 2). In total, the study comprised 52 neurological patients (mean [standard deviation] age = 55.1 [17.3] years; 37 women), 25 cardiac patients (age = 66.2 [9.1] years; 13 women), and 72 healthy controls (age = 52.65 [17.1] years; 50 women). RESULTS Cardiac interoceptive outcomes successfully classified between neurological and cardiac conditions (model 1: >80% accuracy) but not among neurological conditions (model 2: 53% accuracy). Behavioral cardiac interoceptive alterations, although present in all conditions, were powerful in differentiating between neurological and cardiac diseases. However, among neurological conditions, cardiac interoceptive deficits presented more undifferentiated and unspecific disturbances across dimensions. CONCLUSIONS Our result suggests a diffuse pattern of interoceptive alterations across neurological conditions, highlighting their potential role as dimensional, transdiagnostic markers.
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15
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Baiano C, Job X, Santangelo G, Auvray M, Kirsch LP. Interactions between interoception and perspective-taking: Current state of research and future directions. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 130:252-262. [PMID: 34400177 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Interoception, the sense of the physiological state of the body, and perspective-taking, the ability to take another's point of view, are two fundamental components contributing to our perception and interaction with the external world. However, whether the perception of our inner body influences how we perceive the external world and other people remains poorly understood. Here, we review recent behavioural and neuroimaging evidence investigating the links between dimensions of interoception (i.e., accuracy, sensibility and awareness) and perspective-taking (i.e., affective, cognitive and visual). So far, only a limited subset of these dimensions has been investigated together and the results suggest that interoceptive abilities may only interact with perspective-taking when embodied mental transformations are required. Furthermore, mainly the emotional aspects of perspective-taking are related to interoception, influencing the ability to empathise with others. Future research should systematically investigate the links between all dimensions of interoception and perspective-taking to provide full understanding of the specific role interoception has on how we perceive the world and take another's point of view.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Baiano
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy.
| | - Xavier Job
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Gabriella Santangelo
- Department of Psychology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
| | - Malika Auvray
- Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
| | - Louise P Kirsch
- Institut des Systèmes Intelligents et de Robotique, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
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16
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Multidimensional Interoception and Autistic Traits Across life Stages: Evidence From a Novel Eye-tracking Task. J Autism Dev Disord 2021; 52:2644-2655. [PMID: 34264487 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05155-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Interoception is believed to underlie socio-cognitive functions which are often impaired in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In this study, Experiment 1 examined in a sample of 114 neurotypical college students the associations among autistic traits, alexithymia, and interoceptive accuracy (IA), which was assessed by a novel paradigm "Eye-tracking Interoceptive Accuracy Task (EIAT). In Experiment 2, EIAT and the Autism Spectrum Quotient were administered to 52 preschool children, 50 adolescents, and 50 adults. Experiment 1 supported the association between autistic traits and alexithymia, but failed to support their association with multidimensional interoception. Experiment 2 strongly supported the association between age and IA. We conclude that cardiac IA differs between neurotypical age groups, but shows limited relationship with autistic traits.
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17
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Carro N, D'Adamo P, Lozada M. A School Intervention Helps Decrease Daily Stress While Enhancing Social Integration in Children. Behav Med 2021; 47:251-258. [PMID: 32275198 DOI: 10.1080/08964289.2020.1738319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Stress coping is highly relevant during childhood. This study analyses how the participation in a behavioral intervention involving mindfulness-based practices and empathic collaboration activities impact on diurnal cortisol rhythm and social integration in children. In both experimental and waitlist groups, we evaluated before and after the intervention: daily stress, by sampling salivary cortisol at three measurement time-points, and social integration, assessed by a social preference index. Daily average cortisol (DAC) and the area under the curve (AUC) differed when comparing pre-post intervention values in both groups: in the experimental group these measures decreased while in the waitlist group DAC and AUC increased. At the end of the intervention, the experimental group showed an enhancement in the social preference index whereas this parameter diminished in the waitlist group. This kind of behavioral intervention seems to be effective at reducing daily stress and improving social integration in Primary School children.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Carro
- INIBIOMA-CONICET, National University of Comahue, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
| | - P D'Adamo
- IPEHCS-CONICET, National University of Comahue, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
| | - M Lozada
- INIBIOMA-CONICET, National University of Comahue, San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina
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18
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Bohler TE, Brown RF, Dunn S. Relationship between affective state and empathy in medical and psychology students. AUSTRALIAN PSYCHOLOGIST 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/00050067.2021.1926218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tamara E. Bohler
- Medical School, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Rhonda F. Brown
- Research School of Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Stewart Dunn
- Psychological Medicine, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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19
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Salamone PC, Legaz A, Sedeño L, Moguilner S, Fraile-Vazquez M, Campo CG, Fittipaldi S, Yoris A, Miranda M, Birba A, Galiani A, Abrevaya S, Neely A, Caro MM, Alifano F, Villagra R, Anunziata F, Okada de Oliveira M, Pautassi RM, Slachevsky A, Serrano C, García AM, Ibañez A. Interoception Primes Emotional Processing: Multimodal Evidence from Neurodegeneration. J Neurosci 2021; 41:4276-4292. [PMID: 33827935 PMCID: PMC8143206 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2578-20.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent frameworks in cognitive neuroscience and behavioral neurology underscore interoceptive priors as core modulators of negative emotions. However, the field lacks experimental designs manipulating the priming of emotions via interoception and exploring their multimodal signatures in neurodegenerative models. Here, we designed a novel task that involves interoceptive and control-exteroceptive priming conditions followed by post-interoception and post-exteroception facial emotion recognition (FER). We recruited 114 participants, including healthy controls (HCs) as well as patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We measured online EEG modulations of the heart-evoked potential (HEP), and associations with both brain structural and resting-state functional connectivity patterns. Behaviorally, post-interoception negative FER was enhanced in HCs but selectively disrupted in bvFTD and PD, with AD presenting generalized disruptions across emotion types. Only bvFTD presented impaired interoceptive accuracy. Increased HEP modulations during post-interoception negative FER was observed in HCs and AD, but not in bvFTD or PD patients. Across all groups, post-interoception negative FER correlated with the volume of the insula and the ACC. Also, negative FER was associated with functional connectivity along the (a) salience network in the post-interoception condition, and along the (b) executive network in the post-exteroception condition. These patterns were selectively disrupted in bvFTD (a) and PD (b), respectively. Our approach underscores the multidimensional impact of interoception on emotion, while revealing a specific pathophysiological marker of bvFTD. These findings inform a promising theoretical and clinical agenda in the fields of nteroception, emotion, allostasis, and neurodegeneration.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We examined whether and how emotions are primed by interoceptive states combining multimodal measures in healthy controls and neurodegenerative models. In controls, negative emotion recognition and ongoing HEP modulations were increased after interoception. These patterns were selectively disrupted in patients with atrophy across key interoceptive-emotional regions (e.g., the insula and the cingulate in frontotemporal dementia, frontostriatal networks in Parkinson's disease), whereas persons with Alzheimer's disease presented generalized emotional processing abnormalities with preserved interoceptive mechanisms. The integration of both domains was associated with the volume and connectivity (salience network) of canonical interoceptive-emotional hubs, critically involving the insula and the anterior cingulate. Our study reveals multimodal markers of interoceptive-emotional priming, laying the groundwork for new agendas in cognitive neuroscience and behavioral neurology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula C Salamone
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Agustina Legaz
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Lucas Sedeño
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sebastián Moguilner
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Nuclear Medicine School Foundation, National Commission of Atomic Energy, Mendoza, Argentina
| | | | - Cecilia Gonzalez Campo
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sol Fittipaldi
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Adrián Yoris
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience, INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Magdalena Miranda
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience, INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Birba
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agostina Galiani
- Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience, INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Sofía Abrevaya
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience, INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alejandra Neely
- Latin American Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miguel Martorell Caro
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience, INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Florencia Alifano
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience, INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Roque Villagra
- Memory and Neuropsychiatric Clinic, Neurology Department, Hospital del Salvador, SSMO & Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Florencia Anunziata
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET-UNC, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maira Okada de Oliveira
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Neurology, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP Brazil
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Santa Marcelina, Sao Paulo, SP Brazil
| | - Ricardo M Pautassi
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET-UNC, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Andrea Slachevsky
- Memory and Neuropsychiatric Clinic, Neurology Department, Hospital del Salvador, SSMO & Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Gerosciences Center for Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, Chile
- Neuropsychology and Clinical Neuroscience Laboratory, Physiopathology Department, ICBM, Neurosciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Servicio de Neurología, Departamento de Medicina, Clínica Alemana-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
| | - Cecilia Serrano
- Neurología Cognitiva, Hospital Cesar Milstein, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adolfo M García
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Faculty of Education, National University of Cuyo, Mendoza, M5502JMA, Argentina
- Departamento de Lingüística y Literatura, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Agustín Ibañez
- Cognitive Neuroscience Center, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Latin American Brain Health (BrainLat), Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
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20
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Balconi M, Angioletti L. One's Interoception Affects the Representation of Seeing Others' Pain: A Randomized Controlled qEEG Study. Pain Res Manag 2021; 2021:5585060. [PMID: 33884043 PMCID: PMC8041555 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5585060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Objective This research demonstrates that interoceptive attentiveness (IA) can modulate cortical oscillations related to the emotional and cognitive representations of observing pain in others. Methods Twenty participants were required to observe painful/nonpainful stimuli in an individual versus the interactive condition during the recording of the electroencephalogram. The sample was divided into experimental (EXP) and control (CTR) groups, and the EXP group was explicitly required to direct the attention on its interoceptive correlates while observing the stimuli. Results Mixed repeated measures, analyses of variance, were applied to each EEG frequency band. Significant findings were obtained mainly for theta and beta bands for the two groups. A hemispheric lateralisation effect was found, with right lateralisation of the theta band for the EXP group when observing painful stimuli and enhanced left activation of theta and beta bands for the CTR group when observing nonpainful stimuli. For both groups, frontal cortical regions were significantly sensitive to social scenarios, while posterior parietal activation was found for stimuli depicting the individual condition. Conclusions The results suggest that IA might enhance the emotional representation of painful stimuli, highlighting their negative and unpleasant features in the EXP group, while the attention of the CTR group was mainly drawn to nonpainful stimuli in social and individual conditions, with a positive valence. The role of frontal regions in the processing of social stimuli through social cognition, inducing emotional mirroring and requiring deeper analysis of the social context, was underlined. We propose that IA could be trained for promoting emotion regulation and empathic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Balconi
- International Research Center for Cognitive Applied Neuroscience (IrcCAN), Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
- Research Unit in Affective and Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Angioletti
- International Research Center for Cognitive Applied Neuroscience (IrcCAN), Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
- Research Unit in Affective and Social Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy
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21
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Heydrich L, Walker F, Blättler L, Herbelin B, Blanke O, Aspell JE. Interoception and Empathy Impact Perspective Taking. Front Psychol 2021; 11:599429. [PMID: 33536971 PMCID: PMC7848222 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.599429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adopting the perspective of another person is an important aspect of social cognition and has been shown to depend on multisensory signals from one's own body. Recent work suggests that interoceptive signals not only contribute to own-body perception and self-consciousness, but also to empathy. Here we investigated if social cognition - in particular adopting the perspective of another person - can be altered by a systematic manipulation of interoceptive cues and further, if this effect depends on empathic ability. The own-body transformation task (OBT) - wherein participants are instructed to imagine taking the perspective and position of a virtual body presented on a computer screen - offers an effective way to measure reaction time differences linked to the mental effort of taking an other's perspective. Here, we adapted the OBT with the flashing of a silhouette surrounding the virtual body, either synchronously or asynchronously with the timing of participants' heartbeats. We evaluated the impact of this cardio-visual synchrony on reaction times and accuracy rates in the OBT. Empathy was assessed with the empathy quotient (EQ) questionnaire. Based on previous work using the cardio-visual paradigm, we predicted that synchronous (vs. asynchronous) cardio-visual stimulation would increase self-identification with the virtual body and facilitate participants' ability to adopt the virtual body's perspective, thereby enhancing performance on the task, particularly in participants with higher empathy scores. We report that participants with high empathy showed significantly better performance during the OBT task during synchronous versus asynchronous cardio-visual stimulation. Moreover, we found a significant positive correlation between empathic ability and the synchrony effect (the difference in reaction times between the asynchronous and synchronous conditions). We conclude that synchronous cardio-visual stimulation between the participant's body and a virtual body during an OBT task makes it easier to adopt the virtual body's perspective, presumably based on multisensory integration processes. However, this effect depended on empathic ability, suggesting that empathy, interoception and social perspective taking are inherently linked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Heydrich
- CORE Lab, Division of Psychosomatic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Brain-Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Walker
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Brain-Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Larissa Blättler
- Division of Psychosomatic Medicine, Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Department of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Herbelin
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Brain-Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Center for Neuroprosthetics, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olaf Blanke
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Brain-Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Center for Neuroprosthetics, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Department of Neurology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Jane Elizabeth Aspell
- Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Brain-Mind Institute, School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,School of Psychology and Sport Science, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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22
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Frontotemporal dementia, music perception and social cognition share neurobiological circuits: A meta-analysis. Brain Cogn 2021; 148:105660. [PMID: 33421942 DOI: 10.1016/j.bandc.2020.105660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disease that presents with profound changes in social cognition. Music might be a sensitive probe for social cognition abilities, but underlying neurobiological substrates are unclear. We performed a meta-analysis of voxel-based morphometry studies in FTD patients and functional MRI studies for music perception and social cognition tasks in cognitively normal controls to identify robust patterns of atrophy (FTD) or activation (music perception or social cognition). Conjunction analyses were performed to identify overlapping brain regions. In total 303 articles were included: 53 for FTD (n = 1153 patients, 42.5% female; 1337 controls, 53.8% female), 28 for music perception (n = 540, 51.8% female) and 222 for social cognition in controls (n = 5664, 50.2% female). We observed considerable overlap in atrophy patterns associated with FTD, and functional activation associated with music perception and social cognition, mostly encompassing the ventral language network. We further observed overlap across all three modalities in mesolimbic, basal forebrain and striatal regions. The results of our meta-analysis suggest that music perception and social cognition share neurobiological circuits that are affected in FTD. This supports the idea that music might be a sensitive probe for social cognition abilities with implications for diagnosis and monitoring.
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23
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Stoica T, Depue B. Shared Characteristics of Intrinsic Connectivity Networks Underlying Interoceptive Awareness and Empathy. Front Hum Neurosci 2020; 14:571070. [PMID: 33364926 PMCID: PMC7751325 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2020.571070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Awareness of internal bodily sensations (interoceptive awareness; IA) and its connection to complex socioemotional abilities like empathy has been postulated, yet the functional neural circuitry they share remains poorly understood. The present fMRI study employs independent component analysis (ICA) to investigate which empathy facet (Cognitive or Affective) shares resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and/or BOLD variability (rsBOLD) with IA. Healthy participants viewed an abstract nonsocial movie demonstrated to evoke strong rsFC in brain networks resembling rest (InScapes), and resultant rsFC and rsBOLD data were correlated with self-reported empathy and IA questionnaires. We demonstrate a bidirectional behavioral and neurobiological relationship between empathy and IA, depending on the type of empathy interrogated: Affective empathy and IA share both rsFC and rsBOLD, while Cognitive empathy and IA only share rsBOLD. Specifically, increased rsFC in the right inferior frontal operculum (rIFO) of a larger attention network was associated with increased vicarious experience but decreased awareness of inner body sensations. Furthermore, increased rsBOLD between brain regions of an interoceptive network was related to increased sensitivity to internal sensations along with decreased Affective empathy. Finally, increased rsBOLD between brain regions subserving a mentalizing network related to not only an improved ability to take someone's perspective, but also a better sense of mind-body interconnectedness. Overall, these findings suggest that the awareness of one's own internal body changes (IA) is related to the socioemotional ability of feeling and understanding another's emotional state (empathy) and critically, that this relationship is reflected in the brain's resting state neuroarchitecture. Methodologically, this work highlights the importance of utilizing rsBOLD as a complementary window alongside rsFC to better understand neurological phenomena. Our results may be beneficial in aiding diagnosis in clinical populations such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), where participants may be unable to complete tasks or questionnaires due to the severity of their symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodora Stoica
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
| | - Brendan Depue
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
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24
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Focusing: A new challenger for improving the empathy skills of medical students. Complement Ther Med 2020; 53:102536. [PMID: 33066864 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Studies of empathy among medical students reported an alarming significant decline during medical education. Some authors identified the third year of education as the most problematic one: empathy decreased significantly when the curriculum was shifting to patient-care activities. Scientists have tried to address the means and methods for improving empathy skills (e.g., by improving communication abilities), but investigations on this topic are missing. Based on the Damasio's hypothesis and scientific studies, we assume that Focusing (i.e., an embodied practice where one attends to a bodily felt sense and uses it to understand the self and situations) would be significantly and positively linked to empathy. METHOD After their clinical internships, we selected third-year medical students (N = 121) and asked them to complete three questionnaires assessing empathy, Focusing, and social desirability. RESULTS By controlling social desirability, findings confirmed that Focusing (especially the "having access to the felt body" component) was significantly and positively linked with empathy (i.e., Fantasy & Perspective-Taking), and positively predicted Fantasy, Perspective-Taking, and Empathic Concern. CONCLUSIONS These preliminary results suggest that the felt body plays a role in increasing empathy (mainly on cognitive empathy). Few scientific studies have described constructs that significantly promote cognitive empathy and empathic concern (a deeply anchored trait of empathy), which suggests new avenues of investigation.
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25
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MacCormack JK, Castro VL, Halberstadt AG, Rogers ML. Mothers' interoceptive knowledge predicts children's emotion regulation and social skills in middle childhood. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/sode.12418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer K. MacCormack
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill NC USA
| | - Vanessa L. Castro
- Department of Psychology North Carolina State University Raleigh NC USA
| | | | - Megan L. Rogers
- Department of Psychology Florida State University Tallahassee FL USA
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26
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Pantazatos SP, Yttredahl A, Rubin-Falcone H, Kishon R, Oquendo MA, John Mann J, Miller JM. Depression-related anterior cingulate prefrontal resting state connectivity normalizes following cognitive behavioral therapy. Eur Psychiatry 2020; 63:e37. [PMID: 32284075 PMCID: PMC7355178 DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2020.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background. Aberrant activity of the subcallosal cingulate (SCC) is a common theme across pharmacologic treatment efficacy prediction studies. The functioning of the SCC in psychotherapeutic interventions is relatively understudied, as are functional differences among SCC subdivisions. We conducted functional connectivity analyses (rsFC) on resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, collected before and after a course of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), using seeds from three SCC subdivisions. Methods. Resting-state data were collected from unmedicated patients with current MDD (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-17 > 16) before and after 14-sessions of CBT monotherapy. Treatment outcome was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Rostral anterior cingulate (rACC), anterior subcallosal cingulate (aSCC), and Brodmann’s area 25 (BA25) masks were used as seeds in connectivity analyses that assessed baseline rsFC and symptom severity, changes in connectivity related to symptom improvement after CBT, and prediction of treatment outcomes using whole-brain baseline connectivity. Results. Pretreatment BDI negatively correlated with pretreatment rACC ~ dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and aSCC ~ lateral prefrontal cortex rsFC. In a region-of-interest longitudinal analysis, rsFC between these regions increased post-treatment (p < 0.05FDR). In whole-brain analyses, BA25 ~ paracentral lobule and rACC ~ paracentral lobule connectivities decreased post-treatment. Whole-brain baseline rsFC with SCC did not predict clinical improvement. Conclusions. rsFC features of rACC and aSCC, but not BA25, correlated inversely with baseline depression severity, and increased following CBT. Subdivisions of SCC involved in top-down emotion regulation may be more involved in cognitive interventions, while BA25 may be more informative for interventions targeting bottom-up processing. Results emphasize the importance of subdividing the SCC in connectivity analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spiro P Pantazatos
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ashley Yttredahl
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Harry Rubin-Falcone
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ronit Kishon
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Maria A Oquendo
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - J John Mann
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Miller
- Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology, New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
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27
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Montirosso R, McGlone F. The body comes first. Embodied reparation and the co-creation of infant bodily-self. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 113:77-87. [PMID: 32145222 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
During infancy relational experiences of body-to-body exchanges (i.e., embodied interactions) contribute to the infant's bodily perception. Early embodied interactions are based on countless multimodal reciprocal exchanges, in which mother and infant contribute to interpersonal rhythmic cycles of co-regulation (i.e., attunement). However, it remains unclear how infants and their mothers actually accomplish attunement in their exchanges. Interactions between mothers and their infants typically fluctuate between attuned and misattuned states and recovery attunement states by a process called 'reparation'. Here, we discuss recent neuroscientific evidence that provides insight into the mechanisms underpinning the concepts of attunement and misattunement in early embodied interactions. We propose that a process of embodied reparation might be achieved within the dyad through tactile contact behaviors (e.g., skin-to-skin, affectionate touch) and maternal interoceptive sensitivity (i.e., ability to perceive internal input about the state of one's own body). We describe how these elements that mothers provide during embodied interactions with their infants, might contribute not only to bodily attunement, but also to co-create the infant bodily-self.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Montirosso
- 0-3 Center for the at-Risk Infant, Scientific Institute IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini (Lecco), Italy.
| | - Francis McGlone
- School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, LiverpoolJohn Moores University, Liverpool, UK; Institute of Psychology Health & Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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28
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Fittipaldi S, Abrevaya S, Fuente ADL, Pascariello GO, Hesse E, Birba A, Salamone P, Hildebrandt M, Martí SA, Pautassi RM, Huepe D, Martorell MM, Yoris A, Roca M, García AM, Sedeño L, Ibáñez A. A multidimensional and multi-feature framework for cardiac interoception. Neuroimage 2020; 212:116677. [PMID: 32101777 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.116677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Interoception (the sensing of inner-body signals) is a multi-faceted construct with major relevance for basic and clinical neuroscience research. However, the neurocognitive signatures of this domain (cutting across behavioral, electrophysiological, and fMRI connectivity levels) are rarely reported in convergent or systematic fashion. Additionally, various controversies in the field might reflect the caveats of standard interoceptive accuracy (IA) indexes, mainly based on heartbeat detection (HBD) tasks. Here we profit from a novel IA index (md) to provide a convergent multidimensional and multi-feature approach to cardiac interoception. We found that outcomes from our IA-md index are associated with -and predicted by- canonical markers of interoception, including the hd-EEG-derived heart-evoked potential (HEP), fMRI functional connectivity within interoceptive hubs (insular, somatosensory, and frontal networks), and socio-emotional skills. Importantly, these associations proved more robust than those involving current IA indexes. Furthermore, this pattern of results persisted when taking into consideration confounding variables (gender, age, years of education, and executive functioning). This work has relevant theoretical and clinical implications concerning the characterization of cardiac interoception and its assessment in heterogeneous samples, such as those composed of neuropsychiatric patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sol Fittipaldi
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Sofía Abrevaya
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Alethia de la Fuente
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina; Buenos Aires Physics Institute (IFIBA) and Physics Department, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LNPS), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guido Orlando Pascariello
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina; Multimedia Signal Processing Group - Neuroimage Division, French-Argentine International Center for Information and Systems Sciences (CIFASIS), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina; Laboratory of Neuroimaging and Neuroscience (LANEN), INECO Foundation Rosario, Argentina
| | - Eugenia Hesse
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina; Departamento de Matemática y Ciencias, Universidad de San Andrés, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Agustina Birba
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Paula Salamone
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Malin Hildebrandt
- Chair for Addiction Research, Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sofía Alarco Martí
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Marcos Pautassi
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina; Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET-UNC, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - David Huepe
- Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miquel Martorell Martorell
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Adrián Yoris
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina
| | - María Roca
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina; Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LNPS), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adolfo M García
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina; Faculty of Education, National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo), Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Lucas Sedeño
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina
| | - Agustín Ibáñez
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCYT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina; National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina; Center for Social and Cognitive Neuroscience (CSCN), School of Psychology, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile; Universidad Autónoma Del Caribe, Barranquilla, Colombia; ARC Excellence Center of Cognition and its Disorders, Sydney, Australia.
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29
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Salvato G, Richter F, Sedeño L, Bottini G, Paulesu E. Building the bodily self-awareness: Evidence for the convergence between interoceptive and exteroceptive information in a multilevel kernel density analysis study. Hum Brain Mapp 2020; 41:401-418. [PMID: 31609042 PMCID: PMC7268061 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Exteroceptive and interoceptive signals shape and sustain the bodily self-awareness. The existence of a set of brain areas, supporting the integration of information coming from the inside and the outside of the body in building the sense of bodily self-awareness has been postulated, yet the evidence remains limited, a matter of discussion never assessed quantitatively. With the aim of unrevealing where in the brain interoceptive and exteroceptive signals may converge, we performed a meta-analysis on imaging studies of the sense of body ownership, modulated by external visuotactile stimulation, and studies on interoception, which involves the self-awareness for internal bodily sensations. Using a multilevel kernel density analysis, we found that processing of stimuli of the two domains converges primarily in the supramarginal gyrus bilaterally. Furthermore, we found a right-lateralized set of areas, including the precentral and postcentral, and superior temporal gyri. We discuss these results and propose this set of areas as ideal candidates to match multiple body-related signals contributing to the creation of a multidimensional representation of the bodily self.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo Salvato
- Department of Brain and Behavioural SciencesUniversity of PaviaPaviaItaly
- Centre of Cognitive NeuropsychologyASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, Niguarda HospitalMilanItaly
- NeuroMI, Milan Center for NeuroscienceMilanItaly
| | - Fabian Richter
- Department of PsychologyUniversität zu KölnCologneGermany
| | - Lucas Sedeño
- Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN)Institute of Translational and Cognitive Neuroscience (INCyT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro UniversityBuenos AiresArgentina
- National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET)Buenos AiresArgentina
| | - Gabriella Bottini
- Department of Brain and Behavioural SciencesUniversity of PaviaPaviaItaly
- Centre of Cognitive NeuropsychologyASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano, Niguarda HospitalMilanItaly
- NeuroMI, Milan Center for NeuroscienceMilanItaly
| | - Eraldo Paulesu
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Milano‐BicoccaMilanItaly
- IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico GaleazziMilanItaly
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30
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Domain-general and domain-preferential neural correlates underlying empathy towards physical pain, emotional situation and emotional faces: An ALE meta-analysis. Neuropsychologia 2020; 137:107286. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.107286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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31
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Winters DE, Wu W, Fukui S. Longitudinal Effects of Cognitive and Affective Empathy on Adolescent Substance Use. Subst Use Misuse 2020; 55:983-989. [PMID: 32067568 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2020.1717537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: A deficit in either socio-cognitive or socio-affective components of empathy is associated with the severity of substance use by late adolescence. What remains unknown is how longitudinal changes in these components of empathy predict adolescent substance using behavior. Methods: This secondary data analysis used data that followed adolescents in outpatient treatment for substance use (n = 826) during treatment and at 6 months post-treatment. To examine cross-lagged effects of empathy on substance use over time, we used a latent basis growth curve model. Results: Increases in affective empathy predicted reduced substance use over time. However, cognitive empathy did not predict substance use after controlling for other covariates. Conclusions: Lower levels of affective empathy may indicate a developmental vulnerability for substance using behavior. Modifying affective empathy may be a viable treatment target for reducing adolescent substance use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew E Winters
- Indiana University School of Social Work, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Section of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Psychology, Indiana University Purdue University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Sadaaki Fukui
- Indiana University School of Social Work, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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32
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Hagan CR, Rogers ML, Brausch AM, Muehlenkamp JJ, Joiner TE. Interoceptive deficits, non-suicidal self-injury, and suicide risk: a multi-sample study of indirect effects. Psychol Med 2019; 49:2789-2800. [PMID: 30602396 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291718003872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interoceptive deficits (ID) have been associated with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal behavior in multiple studies. Many of these studies are limited in scope, and have not fully examined possible mechanisms explaining how ID affect suicidal behavior. METHODS This study assesses how self-reported ID relate to suicide ideation and attempts in six distinct and geographically diverse samples of adults (n = 2706) and one sample of adolescents (n = 436). Participants responded to a variety of self-report questionnaires and interviews. RESULTS Contrary to our hypothesis, self-reported ID were only associated with suicidal ideation in two samples, one of which was the adolescent sample. Largely consistent with our predictions, self-reported ID exhibited an indirect effect on suicide attempts through versatility of NSSI in four of the five adult samples tested. Finally, the indirect effects of self-reported ID on suicide attempts through NSSI versatility did not act indirectly through behaviorally assessed pain tolerance. CONCLUSIONS We found that, in adults, self-reported ID are not associated with suicidal ideation, but are connected with a history of suicide attempts, through an indirect effect via NSSI. Our findings also indicate that the mechanism of action leading from self-reported ID to suicidal behavior may differ between adolescents and adults, and relate to suicidal behavior independent of pain tolerance. Clinical implications and future directions are discussed.
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33
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Klabunde M, Juszczak H, Jordan T, Baker JM, Bruno J, Carrion V, Reiss AL. Functional neuroanatomy of interoceptive processing in children and adolescents: a pilot study. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16184. [PMID: 31700095 PMCID: PMC6838093 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52776-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In adults, interoception – the sense of the physiological condition of the body - appears to influence emotion processing, cognition, behavior and various somatic and mental health disorders. Adults demonstrate frontal-insula-parietal-anterior cingulate cortex activation during the heartbeat detection task, a common interoceptive measure. Little, however, is known about the functional neuroanatomy underlying interoception in children. The current pilot study examined interoceptive processing in children and adolescents with fMRI while using the heartbeat detection task. Our main findings demonstrate that children as young as the age of six activate the left insula, cuneus, inferior parietal lobule and prefrontal regions. These findings are similar to those in adults when comparing heartbeat and tone detection conditions. Age was associated with increased activation within the dACC, orbital frontal cortex and the mid-inferior frontal gyri. Thus, our pilot study may provide important information about the neurodevelopment of interoceptive processing abilities in children and a task for future interoception neuroimaging studies in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Klabunde
- Centre for Brain Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, United Kingdom.
| | - H Juszczak
- University of California, San Francisco Medical Center, San Francisco, USA
| | - T Jordan
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research, Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - J M Baker
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research, Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - J Bruno
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research, Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - V Carrion
- Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
| | - A L Reiss
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research, Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA.,Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, USA
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Li Y, Zhang T, Li W, Zhang J, Jin Z, Li L. Linking brain structure and activation in anterior insula cortex to explain the trait empathy for pain. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 41:1030-1042. [PMID: 31691467 PMCID: PMC7267919 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to perceive, understand, and react to the feelings of others' pain is referred to as empathy for pain which is composed of two components, affective‐perceptual empathy and cognitive‐evaluative empathy. Recent reviews on the neural mechanisms of empathetic pain showed the anterior insula (AI) cortex as a core circuit for empathy. However, little is known about the modulation of brain anatomy and empathic responses by trait measures of empathy (trait empathy). Thus, we investigated whether individual variation in the personality trait of empathy is associated with individual variation in the structure of specific brain regions using voxel‐based morphometry (VBM). We further investigated the relationship between the trait empathy and the activity of the same regions using state measures of empathy for pain in a trial‐by‐trial fashion in the given situation. VBM analysis indicated a small but significant negative relationship between trait empathy and gray matter volume in the bilateral AI. Functional MRI study further demonstrated that experimentally induced activity of the bilateral AI during state empathy for pain was also correlated with trait empathy. An asymmetry exists between the right and left AI between the affective and cognitive empathy. The right AI was found to be involved in the affective‐perceptual form of empathy and the left AI was active in cognitive‐evaluative forms of empathy. The interindividual differences in trait empathy may be reflected both in the state empathy and more stable brain structure difference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Li
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center for Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, 610054.,School of Management, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China, 611137
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center for Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, 610054
| | - Wenjuan Li
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center for Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, 610054
| | - Junjun Zhang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center for Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, 610054
| | - Zhenlan Jin
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center for Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, 610054
| | - Ling Li
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, High-Field Magnetic Resonance Brain Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Center for Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China, 610054
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35
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Gao Q, Ping X, Chen W. Body Influences on Social Cognition Through Interoception. Front Psychol 2019; 10:2066. [PMID: 31551892 PMCID: PMC6746904 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Qiyang Gao
- Department of Psychology, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
- Center for Brain, Mind and Education, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Xianjie Ping
- Center for Brain, Mind and Education, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Psychology, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
- Center for Brain, Mind and Education, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
- Interdisciplinary Center for Philosophy and Cognitive Sciences, Renmin University of China, Beijing, China
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36
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Abstract
Following recent evidence for a link between interoception, emotion and empathy, we investigated relationships between these factors in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 26 adults with ASD and 26 healthy participants completed tasks measuring interoception, alexithymia and empathy. ASD participants with alexithymia demonstrated lower cognitive and affective empathy than ASD participants without alexithymia. ASD participants showed reduced interoceptive sensitivity (IS), and also reduced interoceptive awareness (IA). IA was correlated with empathy and alexithymia, but IS was related to neither. Alexithymia fulfilled a mediating role between IA and empathy. Our findings are suggestive of an alexithymic subgroup in ASD, with distinct interoceptive processing abilities, and have implications for diagnosis and interventions.
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Pace-Schott EF, Amole MC, Aue T, Balconi M, Bylsma LM, Critchley H, Demaree HA, Friedman BH, Gooding AEK, Gosseries O, Jovanovic T, Kirby LA, Kozlowska K, Laureys S, Lowe L, Magee K, Marin MF, Merner AR, Robinson JL, Smith RC, Spangler DP, Van Overveld M, VanElzakker MB. Physiological feelings. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 103:267-304. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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38
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Babo-Rebelo M, Buot A, Tallon-Baudry C. Neural responses to heartbeats distinguish self from other during imagination. Neuroimage 2019; 191:10-20. [PMID: 30738205 PMCID: PMC6503945 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Imagination is an internally-generated process, where one can make oneself or other people appear as protagonists of a scene. How does the brain tag the protagonist of an imagined scene as being oneself or someone else? Crucially, during imagination, neither external stimuli nor motor feedback are available to disentangle imagining oneself from imagining someone else. Here, we test the hypothesis that an internal mechanism based on the neural monitoring of heartbeats could distinguish between self and other. 23 participants imagined themselves (from a first-person perspective) or a friend (from a third-person perspective) in various scenarios, while their brain activity was recorded with magnetoencephalography and their cardiac activity was simultaneously monitored. We measured heartbeat-evoked responses, i.e. transients of neural activity occurring in response to each heartbeat, during imagination. The amplitude of heartbeat-evoked responses differed between imagining oneself and imagining a friend, in the precuneus and posterior cingulate regions bilaterally. Effect size was modulated by the daydreaming frequency scores of participants but not by their interoceptive abilities. These results could not be accounted for by other characteristics of imagination (e.g., the ability to adopt the perspective, valence or arousal), nor by cardiac parameters (e.g., heart rate) or arousal levels (e.g. arousal ratings, pupil diameter). Heartbeat-evoked responses thus appear as a neural marker distinguishing self from other during imagination. Heartbeat-evoked responses differentiate self from other during imagination. These effects were located in the precuneus and posterior cingulate. The neural monitoring of the heart could be a mechanism for self/other distinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Babo-Rebelo
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Computationnelles, Inserm, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Paris, France; Sorbonne Université, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière, ICM, Ecole Normale Supérieure, ENS, Centre MEG-EEG, F-75013, Paris, France.
| | - Anne Buot
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Computationnelles, Inserm, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Tallon-Baudry
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Computationnelles, Inserm, Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Paris, France
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Quadt L, Critchley HD, Garfinkel SN. The neurobiology of interoception in health and disease. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2018; 1428:112-128. [PMID: 29974959 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 186] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Interoception is the sensing of internal bodily sensations. Interoception is an umbrella term that encompasses (1) the afferent (body-to-brain) signaling through distinct neural and humoral (including immune and endocrine) channels; (2) the neural encoding, representation, and integration of this information concerning internal bodily state; (3) the influence of such information on other perceptions, cognitions, and behaviors; (4) and the psychological expression of these representations as consciously accessible physical sensations and feelings. Interoceptive mechanisms ensure physiological health through the cerebral coordination of homeostatic reflexes and allostatic responses that include motivational behaviors and associated affective and emotional feelings. Furthermore, the conscious, unitary sense of self in time and space may be grounded in the primacy and lifelong continuity of interoception. Body-to-brain interactions influence physical and mental well-being. Consequently, we show that systematic investigation of how individual differences, and within-individual changes, in interoceptive processing can contribute to the mechanistic understanding of physical and psychological disorders. We present a neurobiological overview of interoception and describe how interoceptive impairments at different levels relate to specific physical and mental health conditions, including sickness behaviors and fatigue, depression, eating disorders, autism, and anxiety. We frame these findings in an interoceptive predictive processing framework and highlight potential new avenues for treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Quadt
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), Trafford Centre, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Hugo D Critchley
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), Trafford Centre, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.,Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah N Garfinkel
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), Trafford Centre, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom.,Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
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40
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Jenkinson PM, Taylor L, Laws KR. Self-reported interoceptive deficits in eating disorders: A meta-analysis of studies using the eating disorder inventory. J Psychosom Res 2018; 110:38-45. [PMID: 29764604 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE An impairment of the ability to sense the physiological condition of the body - interoception - has long been proposed as central to the onset and maintenance of eating disorders. More recent attention to this topic has generally indicated the presence of interoceptive deficits in individuals with an eating disorder diagnosis; however, possible links with specific diagnosis, BMI, age, illness duration, depression, and alexithymia remain unclear from individual studies. This meta-analysis aimed to provide a necessary quantitative overview of self-reported interoceptive deficits in eating disorder populations, and the relationship between these deficits and the previously mentioned factors. METHODS Using a random effects model, our meta-analysis assessed the magnitude of differences in interoceptive abilities as measured using the Eating Disorder Inventory in 41 samples comparing people with eating disorders (n = 4308) and healthy controls (n = 3459). Follow-up and moderator analysis was conducted, using group comparisons and meta-regressions. RESULTS We report a large pooled effect size of 1.62 for eating disorders with some variation between diagnostic groups. Further moderator analysis showed that BMI, age and alexithymia were significant predictors of overall effect size. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis is the first to confirm that large interoceptive deficits occur in a variety of eating disorders and crucially, in those who have recovered. These deficits may be useful in identifying and distinguishing eating disorders. Future research needs to consider both objective and subjective measures of interoception across different types of eating disorders and may fruitfully examine interoception as a possible endophenotype and target for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Jenkinson
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, UK.
| | - Lauren Taylor
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, UK
| | - Keith R Laws
- School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, UK
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41
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Boeker H, Kraehenmann R. Neuropsychodynamic Approach to Depression: Integrating Resting State Dysfunctions of the Brain and Disturbed Self-Related Processes. Front Hum Neurosci 2018; 12:247. [PMID: 29997487 PMCID: PMC6030717 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A mechanism-based approach was developed focusing on the psychodynamic, psychological and neuronal mechanisms in healthy and depressed persons. In this integrative concept of depression, the self is a core dimension in depression. It is attributed to negative emotions (e.g., failure, guilt). The increased inward focus in depression is connected with a decreased environmental focus. The development of neuropsychodynamic hypotheses of the altered self-reference is based on the investigation of the emotional-cognitive interaction in depressed patients. It may be hypothesized that the increased negative self-attributions—as typical characteristics of an increased self-focus in depression—may result from altered neuronal activity in subcortical-cortical midline structures in the brain, especially from hyperactivity in the cortical-subcortical midline regions and hypoactivity in the lateral regions. The increased resting state activity in depression is especially associated with an increased resting state activity in the default mode network (DMN) and a dysbalance between DMN and executive network (EN) activity. Possible therapeutic consequences of the neuropsychodynamic approach to depression involve the necessary emotional attunement in psychotherapy of depressed patients and the adequate timing of therapeutic interventions. The hypotheses which have been developed in the context of the neuropsychodynamic model of depression may be used for more specific psychotherapeutic interventions, aiming at specific mechanisms of compensation and defence, which are related to the increased resting state activity and the disturbed resting state-stimulus-interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heinz Boeker
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.,Center for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychoanalysis, Psychiatric University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Rainer Kraehenmann
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
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42
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Rogers ML, Hagan CR, Joiner TE. Examination of interoception along the suicidality continuum. J Clin Psychol 2018; 74:1004-1016. [PMID: 29319196 DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Interoception deficits have been associated with various points on the suicidality continuum. Most research, however, has focused on general, rather than specific facets of, interoception. This study compared individuals with lifetime suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts using a multidimensional assessment of interoception. METHOD A total of 537 adults completed measures of their interoception and lifetime suicide histories. RESULTS Individuals with lifetime suicidal ideation reported more worry about their bodily sensations. Those with lifetime suicide attempts reported a greater tendency to distract themselves from bodily sensations and less self-regulation using bodily sensations. Individuals at all points of the suicidality continuum reported less trust of their bodily sensations. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that interoception may be impaired in those with a history of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Longitudinal designs are needed to parse apart the interplay of these variables and directionality of these relationships.
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Potgieter CA, Bloem CHM. Embodied self-awareness among South African social services therapist-practitioners: An exploratory study. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY IN AFRICA 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2017.1399554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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44
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Klabunde M, Collado D, Bohon C. An interoceptive model of bulimia nervosa: A neurobiological systematic review. J Psychiatr Res 2017; 94:36-46. [PMID: 28651098 PMCID: PMC6026544 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The objective of our study was to examine the neurobiological support for an interoceptive sensory processing model of bulimia nervosa (BN). To do so, we conducted a systematic review of interoceptive sensory processing in BN, using the PRISMA guidelines. We searched PsychInfo, Pubmed, and Web of Knowledge databases to identify biological and behavioral studies that examine interoceptive detection in BN. After screening 390 articles for inclusion and conducting a quality assessment of articles that met inclusion criteria, we reviewed 41 articles. We found that global interoceptive sensory processing deficits may be present in BN. Specifically there is evidence of abnormal brain function, structure and connectivity in the interoceptive neural network, in addition to gastric and pain processing disturbances. These results suggest that there may be a neurobiological basis for global interoceptive sensory processing deficits in BN that remain after recovery. Data from taste and heart beat detection studies were inconclusive; some studies suggest interoceptive disturbances in these sensory domains. Discrepancies in findings appear to be due to methodological differences. In conclusion, interoceptive sensory processing deficits may directly contribute to and explain a variety of symptoms present in those with BN. Further examination of interoceptive sensory processing deficits could inform the development of treatments for those with BN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Klabunde
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States.
| | - Danielle Collado
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Cara Bohon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
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45
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Christensen JF, Gaigg SB, Calvo-Merino B. I can feel my heartbeat: Dancers have increased interoceptive accuracy. Psychophysiology 2017; 55. [DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julia F. Christensen
- Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, Department of Psychology; City, University of London; London UK
- Autism Research Group, Department of Psychology; City, University of London; London UK
| | - Sebastian B. Gaigg
- Autism Research Group, Department of Psychology; City, University of London; London UK
| | - Beatriz Calvo-Merino
- Cognitive Neuroscience Research Unit, Department of Psychology; City, University of London; London UK
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46
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Stern ER, Grimaldi SJ, Muratore A, Murrough J, Leibu E, Fleysher L, Goodman WK, Burdick KE. Neural correlates of interoception: Effects of interoceptive focus and relationship to dimensional measures of body awareness. Hum Brain Mapp 2017; 38:6068-6082. [PMID: 28901713 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Interoception has been defined as the sensing of the physiological condition of the body, with interoceptive sensibility (IS) characterizing an individual's self-reported awareness of internal sensation. IS is a multidimensional construct including not only the tendency to be aware of sensation but also how sensations are interpreted, regulated, and used to inform behavior, with different dimensions relating to different aspects of health and disease. Here we investigated neural mechanisms of interoception when healthy individuals attended to their heartbeat and skin temperature, and examined the relationship between neural activity during interoception and individual differences in self-reported IS using the Multidimensional Scale of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA). Consistent with prior work, interoception activated a network involving insula and sensorimotor regions but also including occipital, temporal, and prefrontal cortex. Differences based on interoceptive focus (heartbeat vs skin temperature) were found in insula, sensorimotor regions, occipital cortex, and limbic areas. Factor analysis of MAIA dimensions revealed 3 dissociable components of IS in our dataset, only one of which was related to neural activity during interoception. Reduced scores on the third factor, which reflected reduced ability to control attention to body sensation and increased tendency to distract from and worry about aversive sensations, was associated with greater activation in many of the same regions as those involved in interoception, including insula, sensorimotor, anterior cingulate, and temporal cortex. These data suggest that self-rated interoceptive sensibility is related to altered activation in regions involved in monitoring body state, which has implications for disorders associated with abnormality of interoception. Hum Brain Mapp 38:6068-6082, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Stern
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, New York.,Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, ISMMS, New York, New York
| | - Stephanie J Grimaldi
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, New York
| | | | - James Murrough
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, New York.,Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, ISMMS, New York, New York
| | - Evan Leibu
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, New York
| | - Lazar Fleysher
- Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, ISMMS, New York, New York.,Department of Radiology, ISMMS, New York, New York
| | - Wayne K Goodman
- Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Katherine E Burdick
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), New York, New York.,Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, ISMMS, New York, New York.,Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
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47
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Cerritelli F, Chiacchiaretta P, Gambi F, Ferretti A. Effect of Continuous Touch on Brain Functional Connectivity Is Modified by the Operator's Tactile Attention. Front Hum Neurosci 2017; 11:368. [PMID: 28775685 PMCID: PMC5517483 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Accepted: 06/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Touch has been always regarded as a powerful communication channel playing a key role in governing our emotional wellbeing and possibly perception of self. Several studies demonstrated that the stimulation of C-tactile afferent fibers, essential neuroanatomical elements of affective touch, activates specific brain areas and the activation pattern is influenced by subject’s attention. However, no research has investigated how the cognitive status of who is administering the touch produces changes in brain functional connectivity of touched subjects. In this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, we investigated brain connectivity while subjects were receiving a static touch by an operator engaged in either a tactile attention or auditory attention task. This randomized-controlled single-blinded study enrolled 40 healthy right-handed adults and randomly assigned to either the operator tactile attention (OTA) or the operator auditory attention (OAA) group. During the five fMRI resting-state runs, the touch was delivered while the operator focused his attention either: (i) on the tactile perception from his hands (OTA group); or (ii) on a repeated auditory stimulus (OAA group). Functional connectivity analysis revealed that prolonged sustained static touch applied by an operator engaged with focused tactile attention produced a significant increase of anticorrelation between posterior cingulate cortex (PCC-seed) and right insula (INS) as well as right inferior-frontal gyrus but these functional connectivity changes are markedly different only after 15 min of touching across the OTA and OAA conditions. Interestingly, data also showed anticorrelation between PCC and left INS with a distinct pattern over time. Indeed, the PCC-left INS anticorrelation is showed to start and end earlier compared to that of PCC-right INS. Taken together, the results of this study showed that if a particular cognitive status of the operator is sustained over time, it is able to elicit significant effects on the subjects’ functional connectivity patterns involving cortical areas processing the interoceptive and attentional value of touch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Cerritelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-PescaraChieti, Italy.,ITAB-Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-PescaraChieti, Italy.,Clinical-Based Human Research Department-C.O.M.E. Collaboration ONLUSPescara, Italy
| | - Piero Chiacchiaretta
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-PescaraChieti, Italy.,ITAB-Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-PescaraChieti, Italy
| | - Francesco Gambi
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-PescaraChieti, Italy.,ITAB-Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-PescaraChieti, Italy
| | - Antonio Ferretti
- Department of Neuroscience, Imaging and Clinical Sciences, "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-PescaraChieti, Italy.,ITAB-Institute for Advanced Biomedical Technologies, "G. D'Annunzio" University of Chieti-PescaraChieti, Italy
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48
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Gillmeister H, Bowling N, Rigato S, Banissy MJ. Inter-Individual Differences in Vicarious Tactile Perception: a View Across the Lifespan in Typical and Atypical Populations. Multisens Res 2017; 30:485-508. [DOI: 10.1163/22134808-00002543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Touch is our most interpersonal sense, and so it stands to reason that we represent not only our own bodily experiences, but also those felt by others. This review will summarise brain and behavioural research on vicarious tactile perception (mirror touch). Specifically, we will focus on vicarious touch across the lifespan in typical and atypical groups, and will identify the knowledge gaps that are in urgent need of filling by examining what is known about how individuals differ within and between typical and atypical groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helge Gillmeister
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Natalie Bowling
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW, UK
| | - Silvia Rigato
- Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ, UK
| | - Michael J. Banissy
- Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW, UK
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49
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Ainley V, Apps MAJ, Fotopoulou A, Tsakiris M. 'Bodily precision': a predictive coding account of individual differences in interoceptive accuracy. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2016; 371:rstb.2016.0003. [PMID: 28080962 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals differ in their awareness of afferent information from within their bodies, which is typically assessed by a heartbeat perception measure of 'interoceptive accuracy' (IAcc). Neural and behavioural correlates of this trait have been investigated, but a theoretical explanation has yet to be presented. Building on recent models that describe interoception within the free energy/predictive coding framework, this paper applies similar principles to IAcc, proposing that individual differences in IAcc depend on 'precision' in interoceptive systems, i.e. the relative weight accorded to 'prior' representations and 'prediction errors' (that part of incoming interoceptive sensation not accounted for by priors), at various levels within the cortical hierarchy and between modalities. Attention has the effect of optimizing precision both within and between sensory modalities. Our central assumption is that people with high IAcc are able, with attention, to prioritize interoception over other sensory modalities and can thus adjust the relative precision of their interoceptive priors and prediction errors, where appropriate, given their personal history. This characterization explains key findings within the interoception literature; links results previously seen as unrelated or contradictory; and may have important implications for understanding cognitive, behavioural and psychopathological consequences of both high and low interoceptive awareness.This article is part of the themed issue 'Interoception beyond homeostasis: affect, cognition and mental health'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Ainley
- Laboratory of Action and Body, Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Matthew A J Apps
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK
| | - Aikaterini Fotopoulou
- Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6B, UK
| | - Manos Tsakiris
- Laboratory of Action and Body, Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
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50
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Sensory processing sensitivity and serotonin gene variance: Insights into mechanisms shaping environmental sensitivity. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 71:472-483. [PMID: 27697602 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Current research supports the notion that the apparently innate trait Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) may act as a modulator of development as function of the environment. Interestingly, the common serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) does the same. While neural mechanisms underlying SPS are largely unknown, those associated with the 5-HTTLPR have been extensively investigated. We perform a comparative analysis of research findings on sensory processing facets associated with the trait and polymorphism to: 1. detect shared phenotypes and frame a hypothesis towards neural mechanisms underlying SPS; 2. increase the understanding of 5-HTTLPR-associated behavioral patterns. Trait and polymorphism are both associated with differential susceptibility to environmental stimuli; additionally, both involve 1. having stronger emotional reactions, 2. processing of sensory information more deeply, 3. being more aware of environmental subtleties, and 4. being easily overstimulated. We discuss neural mechanisms and environmental conditions that may underlie these four facets. Besides urging the actual assessment of the link between the two, the conclusions of our analyses may guide and focus future research strategies.
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