Interoceptive training with real-time haptic versus visualheartbeat feedback

The perception of signals from within the body, known as interoception, is in-creasingly recognized as a prerequisite for physical and mental health. This studyis dedicated to the development of effective technological approaches for enhanc-ing interoceptive abilities. We provide evidence of the effectiveness and practi-cal feasibility of a novel real-time haptic heartbeat supplementation technologycombining principles of biofeedback and sensory augmentation. In a randomizedcontrolled study, we applied the developed naturalistic haptic feedback on agroup of 30 adults, while another group of 30 adults received more traditionalreal-time visual heartbeat feedback. A single session of haptic, but not visualheartbeat feedback resulted in increased interoceptive accuracy and confidence,as measured by the heart rate discrimination task, and in a shift of attention to-ward the body. Participants rated the developed technology as more helpful andpleasant than the visual feedback, thus indicating high user satisfaction. Thestudy highlights the importance of matching sensory characteristics of the feed-back provided to the natural bodily prototype. Our work suggests that real-timehaptic feedback might be a superior approach for strengthening the mind–bodyconnection in interventions for physical and mental health.