Interoception and dissociative experiences: unveiling the relationship between bodily awareness and altered sense of self

A stable and coherent representation of the bodily Self arises from integrating internal (interoceptive) and external (exteroceptive) signals. Dissociation (depersonalization) is a deficit of self-awareness that may affect the whole sense of self. The aim of the present study is to observe whether scarce interoceptive abilities are associated with a higher tendency for spontaneous and induced dissociative experiences. 83 healthy participants (age=24.11±2.31) completed the Dissociation Questionnaire (DIS-Q) and the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES) to measure dissociative traits, and the MAIA-II to assess interoceptive sensibility. To induce state dissociative experiences, participants performed the Mirror Gazing Task (MGT) in two conditions: under poor lighting (to induce dissociative state) and normal lighting (control condition). Before and after the MGT conditions interoceptive accuracy was measured using the Heartbeat Counting Task (HCT) and the Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS) was filled out after each condition to assess participants’ state dissociation and bodily self-consciousness. Results showed that the MGT was effective in inducing state dissociation, as indexed by CADDS scores. Furthermore, under poor lighting, dissociative feelings (CADSS-Depersonalization) negatively correlated with interoceptive sensibility (MAIA Emotional-Awareness:r=-0.23, p=0.04; and Trusting:r=-0.23, p=0.04), and positively with trait dissociation (DIS-Q:r=0.37, p<0.01; DES:r=0.31, p<0.01) and Negative Affective States (PANAS-:r=0.51, p<0.01). There was no modulation in the HCT across MGT conditions. These findings identify a relationship between non-pathological state dissociation and interoceptive sensibility, specifically interoceptive components related to affective and emotional aspects of visceral signals. Further studies on clinical populations are needed to shed light on the interoception-dissociation relationship.