Abstract
Psychology distinguishes between a bodily and a narrative self. Within neuroscience, models of the bodily self are based on exteroceptive sensorimotor processes or on the integration of interoceptive sensations. Recent research has revealed interactions between interoceptive and exteroceptive processing of self-related information, for example that mirror self-observation can improve interoceptive awareness. Using heartbeat perception, we measured the effect on interoceptive awareness of two experimental manipulations, designed to heighten attention to bodily and narrative aspects of the self. Participants gazed at a photograph of their own face or at self-relevant words. In both experimental conditions interoceptive awareness was significantly increased, compared to baseline. Results show that attention to narrative aspects of self, previously regarded as relying on higher-order processes, has an effect similar to self-face stimuli in improving interoceptive awareness. Our findings extend the previously observed interaction between the bodily self and interoception to more abstract amodal representations of the self.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1231-1238 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Consciousness and Cognition |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 4 |
Early online date | 8 Sept 2013 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Dec 2013 |
Keywords
- Bodily self
- Heartbeat perception
- Interoception
- Interoceptive awareness
- Narrative self
- Perceptual accuracy hypothesis
- Self-focus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)