On the embodiment of emotion regulation: interoceptive awareness facilitates reappraisal

Abstract

The ability to cognitively regulate emotional responses to aversive events is essential for mental and physical health. One prerequisite of successful emotion regulation is the awareness of emotional states, which in turn is associated with the awareness of bodily signals [interoceptive awareness (IA)]. This study investigated the neural dynamics of reappraisal of emotional responses in 28 participants who differed with respect to IA. Electroencephalography was used to characterize the time course of emotion regulation. We found that reappraisal was accompanied by reduced arousal and significant modulation of late neural responses. What is more, higher IA facilitated downregulation of affect and was associated with more pronounced modulation of underlying neural activity. Therefore, we conclude that IA not only advances the consolidation of somatic markers required for guiding individual behaviour but also creates processing advantages in tasks referring to these bodily markers.

‘I can’t accept that feeling’: Relationships between interoceptive awareness, mindfulness and eating disorder symptoms in females with, and at-risk of an eating disorder

“…The fact that interoceptive awareness consistently emerged as the stronger mediator in the present study accords with the view it is a 'prerequisite' for effective emotion regulation (Fustos, et al, 2013;Menezes et al, 2012). A prospective investigation could assess the sequential connection between interoceptive awareness on emotion regulation and by consequence symptom change in eating disorders.…”

“…Increasingly, neuroscientific research points towards the importance of interoception as an enhancing agent for effective emotion regulation (Fustos et al, 2013;Menezes et al, 2012).…”

“…Additionally there is ample evidence to indicate how cultivation of interoceptive awareness directly influences emotion regulation ability (Fustos et al, 2013;Holzel et al, 2011;Kerr et 29 al., 2013;Menezes et al, 2012). In addition to practices that increase interoceptive awareness, cultivation of intention to accept what arises in awareness without judging or engaging with it is central to producing gains from mindfulness practices .…”

“…Interoceptive awareness abilities appear to be essential prerequisites for adaptive emotion regulation (Fustos, Gramann, Herbert, & Pollatos, 2013). Deficits in interoceptive awareness, for example being unable to distinguish hunger from anxiety, stand out as a common feature across anorexia and bulimia nervosa Lavender et al, 2014;Merwin, 2011;Merwin et al, 2013;Merwin et al, 2011;Merwin, Zucker, Lacy, & Elliott, 2010;Milos, Spindler, & Schnyder, 2004).…”

“…However it may be premature to conclude that lack of clarity of affective arousal is not so important in eating disorders. In a non-clinical study that used the heartbeat detection method of assessing interoceptive awareness EEG analysis shows that adaptive emotion regulation depends upon how clearly one is aware of interoceptive bodily signals (Fustos et al, 2013). Mindfulness meditation promotes adaptive emotion regulation by enhancing awareness of internal states (Menezes, Pereira, & Bizarro, 2012) but also by enabling non-judgemental acceptance of internal states as passing phenomena.…”