Study assumptions: Interoception is the process through which we perceive and interpret internal sensations in our body. Interoception is based on receiving signals from sensory receptors that transmit information to the central nervous system for interpretation. Typically, it distinguishes an interoceptive component, more generally related to bodily perception, and a component specifically related to visceral (autonomous) aspects. In this context, the latter component is referred to, paying attention to the various dimensions of interoception. These dimensions include the measurement of the accuracy of acquiring internal information from the body, known as interoceptive accuracy, which is assessed through the objective analysis of reports describing internal perceptions. In parallel, interoceptive sensitivity is examined through the subjective reports of the individual regarding their internal perceptions, including sensations such as a rapid heartbeat or changes in pressure. Finally, interoceptive awareness concerns the concordance between objective and subjective data collected in order to understand how aware and accurate an individual is in perceiving their internal responses. In the context of autonomic cardiac regulation, interoception plays an important role in monitoring and interpreting information from the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Heart Rate Variability (HRV), defined as the set of interbeat variations in heart rate and considered an index of adaptation and regulation of the body, appears to be associated with interoceptive capacity. However, in the literature, the association between HRV and interoceptive capacity has not been widely investigated. Study aims: The objective of this study is to fill a gap in the literature by exploring the link between interoceptive capacity and HRV in a healthy sample of young adults. Materials and methods: Fifty university students (34 females) participated in the study. Continuous resting ECG signal was recorded for three minutes, from which HRV indices were derived in the time domain. For the evaluation of interoceptive accuracy, subjects underwent the Heartbeat Tracking Task. For the evaluation of interoceptive sensitivity, subjects completed the Body Perception Questionnaire (BPQ). Results and conclusions: The analysis of the collected data revealed a positive correlation between HRV and the Heartbeat Tracking task. Therefore, heart rate variability is positively associated with the accuracy of perceiving one's own heartbeat. Thus, individuals with higher HRV also had greater interoceptive capacity, while individuals with lower HRV were less skilled in discriminating and interpreting their cardiac activity. Key words: HRV, interoception, autonomic regulation
Presupposti dello studio: L'enterocezione è il processo attraverso il quale percepiamo e interpretiamo le sensazioni interne del nostro corpo. L'enterocezione si basa sulla ricezione di segnali provenienti dai recettori sensoriali, che trasmettono le informazioni al sistema nervoso centrale per essere interpretate. Solitamente si distingue una componente enterocettiva, più generalmente riferita alla percezione corporea, e una componente propriamente riferita agli aspetti viscerali (autonomi). In questo contesto, si fa riferimento a quest’ultima componente, ponendo attenzione alle diverse dimensioni dell’enterocezione. Tali dimensioni includono la misurazione dell'accuratezza dell'acquisizione delle informazioni interne dal corpo, noto come accuratezza enterocettiva, la quale viene valutata mediante l'analisi obiettiva dei rapporti che descrivono le percezioni interne. In parallelo, la sensibilità enterocettiva viene esaminata mediante l'analisi dei rapporti soggettivi dell'individuo riguardo le proprie percezioni interne, comprendendo sensazioni come il battito accelerato del cuore o la variazione della pressione. Infine, la consapevolezza enterocettiva, riguarda la concordanza tra i dati oggettivi e soggettivi raccolti, al fine di comprendere quanto l'individuo sia cosciente e in grado di percepire con precisione le proprie risposte interne. Nel contesto della regolazione autonoma cardiaca, l'enterocezione gioca un ruolo importante nel monitorare e interpretare le informazioni provenienti dal sistema nervoso periferico (SNP). L’Heart Rate Variability (HRV), definita come l'insieme delle variazioni inter-battito della frequenza cardiaca e considerata un indice di adattamento e regolazione dell’organismo, sembra essere associata alla capacità enterocettiva. Nonostante ciò, in letteratura l’associazione tra HRV e capacità enterocettiva non è stata ancora ampliamente indagata. Scopo dello studio: L’obbiettivo di questo studio è quello di colmare una lacuna nella letteratura esplorando il legame tra la capacità enterocettiva e l’HRV in un campione sano di giovani adulti. Materiali e metodo: Cinquanta studenti universitari (34 F) hanno partecipato allo studio. È stato registrato il segnale continuo ECG a riposo per tre minuti, da cui sono stati derivati gli indici HRV nel dominio del tempo. Per la valutazione dell’accuratezza enterocettiva, i soggetti sono stati sottoposti all’Heartbeat Tracking Task. Per la valutazione della sensibilità enterocettiva, i soggetti hanno compilato il Body Perception questionairre (BPQ). Risultati e conclusioni: Dall’analisi dei dati raccolti è emersa una correlazione positiva tra HRV e l’Heartbeat Tracking task. Quindi, la variabilità della frequenza cardiaca si associa positivamente all’accuratezza della percezione del proprio battito cardiaco. Quindi, gli individui che presentavano una maggiore HRV possedevano anche una maggiore capacità enterocettiva, al contrario gli individui con minore HRV erano meno abili nel discriminare ed interpretare la propria attività cardiaca. Parole chiave: HRV, enterocezione, regolazione autonoma
Accuratezza enterocettiva e variabilità della frequenza cardiaca.
PENCO, MARIELLA
2022/2023
Abstract
Study assumptions: Interoception is the process through which we perceive and interpret internal sensations in our body. Interoception is based on receiving signals from sensory receptors that transmit information to the central nervous system for interpretation. Typically, it distinguishes an interoceptive component, more generally related to bodily perception, and a component specifically related to visceral (autonomous) aspects. In this context, the latter component is referred to, paying attention to the various dimensions of interoception. These dimensions include the measurement of the accuracy of acquiring internal information from the body, known as interoceptive accuracy, which is assessed through the objective analysis of reports describing internal perceptions. In parallel, interoceptive sensitivity is examined through the subjective reports of the individual regarding their internal perceptions, including sensations such as a rapid heartbeat or changes in pressure. Finally, interoceptive awareness concerns the concordance between objective and subjective data collected in order to understand how aware and accurate an individual is in perceiving their internal responses. In the context of autonomic cardiac regulation, interoception plays an important role in monitoring and interpreting information from the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Heart Rate Variability (HRV), defined as the set of interbeat variations in heart rate and considered an index of adaptation and regulation of the body, appears to be associated with interoceptive capacity. However, in the literature, the association between HRV and interoceptive capacity has not been widely investigated. Study aims: The objective of this study is to fill a gap in the literature by exploring the link between interoceptive capacity and HRV in a healthy sample of young adults. Materials and methods: Fifty university students (34 females) participated in the study. Continuous resting ECG signal was recorded for three minutes, from which HRV indices were derived in the time domain. For the evaluation of interoceptive accuracy, subjects underwent the Heartbeat Tracking Task. For the evaluation of interoceptive sensitivity, subjects completed the Body Perception Questionnaire (BPQ). Results and conclusions: The analysis of the collected data revealed a positive correlation between HRV and the Heartbeat Tracking task. Therefore, heart rate variability is positively associated with the accuracy of perceiving one's own heartbeat. Thus, individuals with higher HRV also had greater interoceptive capacity, while individuals with lower HRV were less skilled in discriminating and interpreting their cardiac activity. Key words: HRV, interoception, autonomic regulationFile | Dimensione | Formato | |
---|---|---|---|
Penco_Mariella.pdf
accesso aperto
Dimensione
2.28 MB
Formato
Adobe PDF
|
2.28 MB | Adobe PDF | Visualizza/Apri |
The text of this website © Università degli studi di Padova. Full Text are published under a non-exclusive license. Metadata are under a CC0 License
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12608/58845