Exploring the relationship between cardiac awareness and balance

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Physiology
• Biomechanics

Background:

• Postural balance relies on integrating multiple physiological signals.
• Cardiac awareness (interoception) is increasingly recognized for its role in bodily regulation.
• Previous research indirectly suggested a link between autonomic signals and balance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between cardiac awareness and postural control.
• To determine if interoception influences the ability to maintain balance.
• To explore this link under varying sensory and postural demands.

Main Methods:

• Seventy healthy individuals participated in a within-subject design.
• Postural control was assessed using a robotic medical device measuring sway and oscillations.
• Cardiac awareness was quantified using the heartbeat counting task.

Main Results:

• In challenging conditions (unstable platform, eyes closed), higher cardiac awareness was linked to significantly reduced sway area.
• Participants with greater cardiac awareness exhibited less platform and trunk oscillation.
• These results indicate a direct correlation between interoception and postural stability.

Conclusions:

• Interoception, or the perception of internal bodily signals, may play a crucial role in maintaining postural balance.
• Enhanced cardiac awareness could contribute to improved postural control, particularly in situations demanding greater sensory integration.
• This study highlights a potential mechanism where sensing internal physiological states supports motor control.