Looking into myself: Changes in interoceptive sensitivity during mirror self-observation

Interoceptive sensitivity is an essential component of recent models of “the self.” Increased focus on the self (e.g., self‐observation in a mirror) can enhance aspects of self‐processing. We examined whether self‐observation also enhances interoceptive sensitivity. Participants performed a heartbea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychophysiology 2012-11, Vol.49 (11), p.1672-1676
Main Authors: Ainley, Vivien, Tajadura-Jiménez, Ana, Fotopoulou, Aikaterini, Tsakiris, Manos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Child
Female
Heart Rate - physiology
Heartbeat detection
Humans
Indexing in process
Individual differences
Interoception
Male
Middle Aged
Mirror self-observation
Neuropsychological Tests
Physiological psychology
Self Concept
Self evaluation
Self image
Sensation - physiology
Young Adult
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Summary:Interoceptive sensitivity is an essential component of recent models of “the self.” Increased focus on the self (e.g., self‐observation in a mirror) can enhance aspects of self‐processing. We examined whether self‐observation also enhances interoceptive sensitivity. Participants performed a heartbeat detection task while looking at their own face in a mirror or at a black screen. There was significant improvement in interoceptive sensitivity in the mirror condition for those participants with lower interoceptive sensitivity at baseline. This effect was independent of the order of conditions, gender, age, body mass index, habitual exercise, and changes in heart rate. Our results suggest that self‐observation may represent a viable way of manipulating individuals' interoceptive sensitivity, in order to directly test causal relations between interoceptive sensitivity and exteroceptive self‐processing.
ISSN:0048-5772
1469-8986
1540-5958
DOI:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2012.01468.x