False Cardiac Feedback and Pain Perception

What is it about?

The study explores the impact of cardiac feedback on pain perception and physiological responses. Faster cardiac feedback led to expectations of increased pain, which influenced both perceived pain intensity and cardiac responses. The results suggest that interoceptive inference can be manipulated, demonstrating the embodied predictive coding framework's relevance. Experiment 1 showed that faster feedback induced an illusory perception of increased pain and altered heart rates, supporting the hypothesis that both interoceptive states and inferences can shape each other.

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Why is it important?

This research is important because it provides new insights into how our brains process interoceptive signals, particularly in the context of pain expectations. By manipulating cardiac feedback, the study demonstrates that expectations about pain can influence both our perception of pain and our physiological response. This has implications for understanding pain mechanisms, the placebo effect, and potentially clinical disorders related to pain perception. Key Takeaways: 1. Pain expectations can be influenced by external factors, such as cardiac feedback, which can impact both perception and physiological response. 2. The study uses a novel approach to investigate interoceptive inference and its role in shaping pain perception and physiological changes. 3. The findings contribute to a better understanding of pain mechanisms, the placebo effect, and potential applications in clinical disorders related to pain perception.