Attention to interoceptive processes interferes with access of emotion concepts

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Embodied Cognition

Background:

• Grounded cognition theories propose that abstract concepts, especially emotions linked to bodily states, are processed via embodied simulations.
• Interoception, the sense of the body's internal state, is crucial for emotional experience and processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of embodied simulations in processing emotion concepts versus concrete and abstract concepts.
• To examine how manipulating attention to respiratory rate affects concept processing speed.

Main Methods:

• Participants completed a feature-verification task while attention was manipulated.
• An experimental group focused on mindful breathing and respiratory sensations; a control group focused on a visual distractor.
• Linear mixed effects models analyzed reaction times and respiration data.

Main Results:

• Attention to respiration significantly slowed reaction times for emotion concepts, indicating an interference effect.
• This interference was linked to interoceptive abilities, including baseline sensibility and concurrent engagement.
• No significant interference was observed for concrete or abstract (non-emotion) concepts.

Conclusions:

• Findings support the role of embodied simulations in processing emotion concepts.
• Interoceptive processes are integral to how we understand and react to emotional information.
• The study highlights the connection between bodily states and cognitive processing of emotions.