Can doubt attenuate access to internal states? Implications for obsessive-compulsive disorder

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) exhibit poorer perception of internal states.
• Elevated doubt in OCD raises questions about the causal link between doubt and perception accuracy.
• Previous research indicates a deficit in interoception in OCD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if reduced confidence in producing an internal state impacts perception accuracy.
• To explore the role of self-doubt in interoceptive performance.

Main Methods:

• Participants trained to produce specific forearm muscle tension levels.
• Experimental manipulation involved undermining participants' confidence in their ability to assess muscle tension.
• Performance measured by accuracy in producing tension and reliance on biofeedback.

Main Results:

• Participants with undermined confidence showed reduced accuracy in muscle tension production without biofeedback.
• Lowered confidence led to increased requests for biofeedback.
• Self-doubt directly correlated with impaired interoceptive accuracy.

Conclusions:

• Doubt significantly impacts the ability to accurately perceive and experience internal bodily states.
• Findings support the hypothesis that heightened doubt in OCD attenuates access to internal states.
• Interoceptive deficits in OCD may be mediated by doubt regarding internal sensations.