The Influence of False Cardiac Feedback on Autonomic Markers of Arousal

Abstract

Interoception plays a key role in experiencing emotions, as it provides information about bodily arousal. Cardiac feedback manipulation proved to be a useful tool for exploring interoceptive processes. However, previous research showed inconclusive results on the influence of synchronous and false cardiac feedback on autonomic arousal. In the present study, we measured the influence of accelerated false cardiac feedback on participants’ heart rate, respiratory rate and heart rate variability. Furthermore, we were interested in the modulatory effect of interoceptive accuracy measured by the Schandry task. Participants’ ECG and respiratory rate were recorded during experimental task involving presentation of synchronous and false auditory cardiac feedback. Contrary to our assumption, false cardiac feedback elicited deceleration of heart rate and reduction of heart rate variability. Interoceptive accuracy had no effect on either variable. According to participant’s reports, cardiac and the respiratory deceleration may come from down-regulatory responses to the distorted feedback.

Keywords

• false cardiac feedback
• interoception
• heart rate
• respiratory rate
• autonomic arousal