Enhancing Interoceptive Abilities and Emotional Processing: Effects of HD-tDCS
Background: Interoception, the processing and integration of bodily signals, is crucial for emotional experiences and overall well-being. The interoceptive network, including the somatosensory cortices, has been recognized for its role in interoceptive and emotional processing. High-definition trans...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IMR Press
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Integrative Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/23/1/10.31083/j.jin2301008 |
| _version_ | 1797338813744283648 |
|---|---|
| author | Jasmin Schultze Sara A. Hajian Sandra Mai-Lippold Olga Pollatos |
| author_facet | Jasmin Schultze Sara A. Hajian Sandra Mai-Lippold Olga Pollatos |
| author_sort | Jasmin Schultze |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Interoception, the processing and integration of bodily signals, is crucial for emotional experiences and overall well-being. The interoceptive network, including the somatosensory cortices, has been recognized for its role in interoceptive and emotional processing. High-definition transcranial, direct-current stimulation (HD-tDCS) has been demonstrated to modulate brain activity in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1). Based on those findings, we hypothesized that anodal HD-tDCS over the right S1 would enhance interoceptive abilities and heighten emotional perception. Methods: Thirty-six healthy adults participated in two sessions separated by at least one week. A 20-min HD-tDCS stimulation (2 mA), and a sham stimulation, were applied in randomized order. Both conditions involved pre-tDCS physical activation by ergometer cycling. Interoceptive abilities were assessed before and after both sessions using a heartbeat-perception and respiratory-load task. Emotional perception was measured using four matched international affective picture system (IAPS) picture sets presented randomly. Results: Active HD-tDCS did not significantly improve interoceptive accuracy, interoceptive emotion evaluation, or interoceptive sensibility. However, a notable increase in cardiac interoceptive awareness was observed after active HD-tDCS. The expected enhancement of emotional processing was not observed. Conclusions: This study represents the first attempt to modulate interoceptive and emotional processing using HD-tDCS over S1. Although consistent enhancement was not observed, our findings provide insights into the modulation of interoceptive and emotional processes with HD-tDCS, suggesting avenues for further research. Further studies should consider the nuanced effects of stimulation techniques and the complex interplay between interoception and emotion. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:36:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4faa7018a9c444df9a3dacf3d0d7923b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0219-6352 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:36:46Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | IMR Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Integrative Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-4faa7018a9c444df9a3dacf3d0d7923b2024-01-30T07:44:43ZengIMR PressJournal of Integrative Neuroscience0219-63522024-01-01231810.31083/j.jin2301008S0219-6352(23)00631-9Enhancing Interoceptive Abilities and Emotional Processing: Effects of HD-tDCSJasmin Schultze0Sara A. Hajian1Sandra Mai-Lippold2Olga Pollatos3Clinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, GermanyClinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, GermanyClinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, GermanyClinical and Health Psychology, Institute of Psychology and Education, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, GermanyBackground: Interoception, the processing and integration of bodily signals, is crucial for emotional experiences and overall well-being. The interoceptive network, including the somatosensory cortices, has been recognized for its role in interoceptive and emotional processing. High-definition transcranial, direct-current stimulation (HD-tDCS) has been demonstrated to modulate brain activity in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1). Based on those findings, we hypothesized that anodal HD-tDCS over the right S1 would enhance interoceptive abilities and heighten emotional perception. Methods: Thirty-six healthy adults participated in two sessions separated by at least one week. A 20-min HD-tDCS stimulation (2 mA), and a sham stimulation, were applied in randomized order. Both conditions involved pre-tDCS physical activation by ergometer cycling. Interoceptive abilities were assessed before and after both sessions using a heartbeat-perception and respiratory-load task. Emotional perception was measured using four matched international affective picture system (IAPS) picture sets presented randomly. Results: Active HD-tDCS did not significantly improve interoceptive accuracy, interoceptive emotion evaluation, or interoceptive sensibility. However, a notable increase in cardiac interoceptive awareness was observed after active HD-tDCS. The expected enhancement of emotional processing was not observed. Conclusions: This study represents the first attempt to modulate interoceptive and emotional processing using HD-tDCS over S1. Although consistent enhancement was not observed, our findings provide insights into the modulation of interoceptive and emotional processes with HD-tDCS, suggesting avenues for further research. Further studies should consider the nuanced effects of stimulation techniques and the complex interplay between interoception and emotion.https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/23/1/10.31083/j.jin2301008heartbeat perceptionnon-invasive neurostimulationphysical activationprimary somatosensory cortextranscranial direct-current stimulation |
| spellingShingle | Jasmin Schultze Sara A. Hajian Sandra Mai-Lippold Olga Pollatos Enhancing Interoceptive Abilities and Emotional Processing: Effects of HD-tDCS Journal of Integrative Neuroscience heartbeat perception non-invasive neurostimulation physical activation primary somatosensory cortex transcranial direct-current stimulation |
| title | Enhancing Interoceptive Abilities and Emotional Processing: Effects of HD-tDCS |
| title_full | Enhancing Interoceptive Abilities and Emotional Processing: Effects of HD-tDCS |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Interoceptive Abilities and Emotional Processing: Effects of HD-tDCS |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Interoceptive Abilities and Emotional Processing: Effects of HD-tDCS |
| title_short | Enhancing Interoceptive Abilities and Emotional Processing: Effects of HD-tDCS |
| title_sort | enhancing interoceptive abilities and emotional processing effects of hd tdcs |
| topic | heartbeat perception non-invasive neurostimulation physical activation primary somatosensory cortex transcranial direct-current stimulation |
| url | https://www.imrpress.com/journal/JIN/23/1/10.31083/j.jin2301008 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jasminschultze enhancinginteroceptiveabilitiesandemotionalprocessingeffectsofhdtdcs AT saraahajian enhancinginteroceptiveabilitiesandemotionalprocessingeffectsofhdtdcs AT sandramailippold enhancinginteroceptiveabilitiesandemotionalprocessingeffectsofhdtdcs AT olgapollatos enhancinginteroceptiveabilitiesandemotionalprocessingeffectsofhdtdcs |