Aims: A stable and coherent representation of the bodily self is the result of the integration of signals coming from inside (interoception) and outside (exteroception) the body. Here, we aimed to understand whether scarce interoceptive abilities are associated with stronger tendency to experience spontaneous or induced dissociative experiences. Materials and Methods: In a first online session, 25 healthy participants (F= 14; M= 11; mean age = 24,32143; SD = 2,31026) filled in the Dissociation Questionnaire (DIS) and the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) to measure their subjective tendency to experience dissociative states and alterations of the sense of self, whereas the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) questionnaire was administered to measure interoceptive sensitivity. In a second session, performed in the laboratory, a Heartbeat Counting Task (HCT) measured interoceptive accuracy and a Mirror Gazing Task (MGT) was used to induce a transient experience of dissociation. In the MGT, participants undergo 10 minutes of mirror exposure in a condition of sensory deprivation, i.e. under poor lighting, able to induce the dissociative state, and under normal lighting (control condition). After each MGT condition participants filled an adapted version of the State Scale of Dissociation (SSD) measuring their state dissociation and their bodily self-consciousness. Results: We found that in the MGT, participants experienced a higher level of state dissociation in the experimental condition compared to the control one. Interestingly, the strength of dissociative illusory feelings (SSD) negatively correlated with the Self-Regulation subscale (MAIA). We also found that participants' tendency to experience dissociative states (DIS, DES) correlated with the Trusting subscale (MAIA), but not with interoceptive accuracy (HCT). Discussion: The observation of one's own face in condition of poor lighting did induce dissociative states in neurotypical individuals and the strength of this illusory feelings correlate with participants' ability to regulate distress by attention to their visceral signals. In line with our hypothesis, we also found that higher trait dissociation was associated with lower experience of feeling one's body as a safe and trustworthy environment but not with participants' ability to track their heartbeat. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a relationship between interoceptive sensitivity and non-pathological state/trait dissociation is present when considering interoceptive aspects related to the affective component of visceral signals (Trusting, Self-Regulation subscales) but not with a general measure of interoceptive accuracy. Studies on clinical population will better clarify the relationship between interoception and dissociation.

Interoceptive sensitivity not accuracy correlates with state and trait dissociation / Vercelli, Gabriele; Ciccarone, Sofia; Porciello, Giuseppina; Bufalari, Ilaria. - (2022). (Intervento presentato al convegno XXX Congresso Nazionale Società Italiana Psicofisiologia e Neuroscienze Cognitive (SIPF). tenutosi a Udine).

Interoceptive sensitivity not accuracy correlates with state and trait dissociation

Gabriele Vercelli
Primo
;
Sofia Ciccarone
Secondo
;
Giuseppina Porciello
Penultimo
;
Ilaria Bufalari
Ultimo
2022

Abstract

Aims: A stable and coherent representation of the bodily self is the result of the integration of signals coming from inside (interoception) and outside (exteroception) the body. Here, we aimed to understand whether scarce interoceptive abilities are associated with stronger tendency to experience spontaneous or induced dissociative experiences. Materials and Methods: In a first online session, 25 healthy participants (F= 14; M= 11; mean age = 24,32143; SD = 2,31026) filled in the Dissociation Questionnaire (DIS) and the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) to measure their subjective tendency to experience dissociative states and alterations of the sense of self, whereas the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) questionnaire was administered to measure interoceptive sensitivity. In a second session, performed in the laboratory, a Heartbeat Counting Task (HCT) measured interoceptive accuracy and a Mirror Gazing Task (MGT) was used to induce a transient experience of dissociation. In the MGT, participants undergo 10 minutes of mirror exposure in a condition of sensory deprivation, i.e. under poor lighting, able to induce the dissociative state, and under normal lighting (control condition). After each MGT condition participants filled an adapted version of the State Scale of Dissociation (SSD) measuring their state dissociation and their bodily self-consciousness. Results: We found that in the MGT, participants experienced a higher level of state dissociation in the experimental condition compared to the control one. Interestingly, the strength of dissociative illusory feelings (SSD) negatively correlated with the Self-Regulation subscale (MAIA). We also found that participants' tendency to experience dissociative states (DIS, DES) correlated with the Trusting subscale (MAIA), but not with interoceptive accuracy (HCT). Discussion: The observation of one's own face in condition of poor lighting did induce dissociative states in neurotypical individuals and the strength of this illusory feelings correlate with participants' ability to regulate distress by attention to their visceral signals. In line with our hypothesis, we also found that higher trait dissociation was associated with lower experience of feeling one's body as a safe and trustworthy environment but not with participants' ability to track their heartbeat. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a relationship between interoceptive sensitivity and non-pathological state/trait dissociation is present when considering interoceptive aspects related to the affective component of visceral signals (Trusting, Self-Regulation subscales) but not with a general measure of interoceptive accuracy. Studies on clinical population will better clarify the relationship between interoception and dissociation.
2022
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1676907
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