Reduction of auditory input improves performance on the heartbeat tracking task, but does not necessarily enhance...

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Physiology

Background:

• Previous research suggests noise-dampening ear protectors may enhance interoceptive accuracy (IAcc).
• A between-subjects design was previously used to investigate this effect.
• Potential mechanisms underlying this enhancement require further examination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of noise-dampening ear protectors on interoceptive accuracy using a within-participants design.
• To explore the mechanisms that might explain how ear protectors influence interoceptive accuracy.
• To assess the impact of ear protectors on heartbeat counting task (HTT) performance and related subjective experiences.

Main Methods:

• A within-participants, repeated-measures design was employed with 50 participants.
• Participants completed the heartbeat tracking task (HTT) twice: once with industrial ear protectors and once without, in a counter-balanced order.
• The HTT involved counting heartbeats in specified time intervals without manual pulse-feeling.

Main Results:

• Heartbeat tracking task (HTT) scores were significantly higher when participants wore ear protectors.
• Performance improvements were most pronounced in individuals with lower baseline interoceptive accuracy.
• Ear protector use was linked to increased heartbeat audibility, confidence, concentration, and decreased distractibility.

Conclusions:

• Industrial ear defenders enhance heartbeat counting accuracy, particularly for individuals with poorer baseline interoceptive accuracy.
• The observed increase in heartbeat audibility suggests this manipulation may not be suitable for causal inference regarding interoceptive accuracy.
• This method offers a simple, non-invasive approach to study the impact of externalized interoceptive signals.