Disentangling interoception and its links to cognitive functioning in fibromyalgia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Medical Research

Background:

• Fibromyalgia is characterized by pain, cognitive deficits, and altered interoception.
• The impact of interoceptive changes on cognitive task management in fibromyalgia remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between interoception and cognitive function in individuals with fibromyalgia.
• To explore how different facets of interoception (accuracy, awareness, sensibility) relate to specific cognitive tasks.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-nine fibromyalgia patients completed clinical assessments, the Digit-span test, and the Stroop test.
• Interoceptive Accuracy (IAc) was measured via heartbeat detection; Interoceptive Awareness (IAw) via confidence ratings; Interoceptive Sensibility (IS) via a validated questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Interoceptive Accuracy (IAc) positively correlated with Digit-span and Stroop test performance.
• Interoceptive Sensibility (IS) negatively correlated with Digit-span backward performance.
• Interoceptive Awareness (IAw) negatively associated with Digit-span and Stroop scores.
• IAc predicted Digit-span backward performance with increasing symptom severity.

Conclusions:

• Interoception plays a significant role in cognitive abilities among fibromyalgia patients.
• Accurate detection and use of body signals may aid cognitive self-regulation.
• However, heightened regulation of body signals might impair cognitive performance in fibromyalgia.