The cognitive neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the impact of Interoceptive attention on cognitive control

Influential theories and extensive research suggest that interoception significantly affects an individual's cognition and emotions, yet the neural mechanisms involved remain incompletely understood. This study aims to clarify the neurophysiological dynamics of how interoceptive attention modulates cognitive control. Participants completed a classic Stroop task preceded by cue stimuli designed to bias processing toward cardiac/interoceptive information (normal vs. abnormal heart-rate cues) or externally salient threat-related information (fearful faces). Neural electrophysiological data elicited by the cues and stroop task were recorded and analyzed. The results show that both interoceptive attention and external fear cues enhance individual inhibitory control. Neurophysiological findings reveal both common and distinct mechanisms by which interoceptive attention and external fear cues improve inhibitory control. Microstate analysis further suggests that interoceptive attention may uniquely enhance cognitive control by integrating interoception with salience networks, whereas both cue types converge on the dorsal attention network under high conflict. This study, from a neurophysiological perspective, reveals the specific neural mechanisms through which interoceptive attention influences executive functions, providing initial scientific evidence for further exploration of the interplay between interoception and individual psychology, including psychopathology.