
pmid: 31095929
The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of an acute increase in cortisol in response to a psychosocial stressor on heartbeat perception, in a laboratory environment. Thirty-six participants (20 women, 16 men, mean age = 21.7 years, standard deviation = 1.7 years) completed a heartbeat counting task (Schandry paradigm) before and after exposure to an acute psychosocial stressor (Trier Social Stress Test; TSST). Heartbeat counting performance was compared between participants who exhibited strong cortisol responses (>15.5% increase in cortisol from baseline; responders) and those who did not (non-responders). Responders showed increased heartbeat counting accuracy following the TSST, which was not observed in non-responders. The two groups did not differ in their responsivity to subjective anxiety ratings or heart rate. These results indicated that acutely elevated cortisol in response to a psychosocial stressor is associated with increased interoceptive accuracy. The results provide a possible explanation for inconsistent findings on the effect of stress exposure on interoception.
Male, Hydrocortisone, Anxiety, Neuropsychological Tests, Social Environment, Interoception, Young Adult, Heart Rate, Humans, Female, Perception, Psychomotor Performance, Stress, Psychological
Male, Hydrocortisone, Anxiety, Neuropsychological Tests, Social Environment, Interoception, Young Adult, Heart Rate, Humans, Female, Perception, Psychomotor Performance, Stress, Psychological
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