9: Modulating interoception through thermoceptive biofeedback: development of a novel training paradigm

Topic: Basic Science
Subtopic: Non-specific to any diagnosis (including studies in healthy animals), Developing methodology/technology, Non-pharmacological interventions, Behavioral studies

Background and Aims: Interoception refers to sense of physiological condition of the body and plays a key role in emotion regulation, bodily awareness, and adaptive regulation of internal states [1] Altered interoceptive processing has been increasingly implicated in the development and maintenance of chronic pain [4]. While most interoception research focuses on cardiac signals, thermosensation remains relatively underexplored despite its relevance for bodily threat detection and pain processing [2,3]. The present study aims to develop and evaluate a novel thermoceptive biofeedback training paradigm designed to improve thermoceptive accuracy through short-term experimental training.

Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: training, no-feedback control, resting control. Thermoceptive accuracy was assessed twice using a dynamic thermal matching task [2]. Thermal stimuli (22-42°C) were delivered to a marked forearm area with a moving thermode. In three series, participants identified stimuli matching the reference temperature and rated confidence. During training, the biofeedback group judged whether stimuli were lower, equal, or higher than the reference and received trial-by-trial accuracy feedback. One control group received the same number and sequence of stimuli but remained passive. The resting control group completed a 10-minute break.

Results: 49 participants completed the pilot study. A repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant interaction between time (pre vs. post) and group, F(2,49) = 5.81, p = 0.005, η²p = 0.19, indicating differential changes in thermoceptive accuracy across conditions. Pairwise comparisons showed a significant improvement in thermoceptive accuracy between measurements only in the training group (p = 0.002), whereas no significant changes were observed in control groups. These findings provide preliminary support for the effectiveness of thermoceptive biofeedback training.

Conclusions: The pilot study results provide preliminary evidence that thermoceptive interoceptive accuracy can be modified through short-term thermoceptive biofeedback training. Given the role of interoceptive processing in bodily threat detection and pain perception, these findings highlight the potential relevance of thermoceptive training for research on mechanisms underlying pain-related body signal processing. Data collection is still ongoing, and final results will be presented at the conference.

References: [1] Craig AD. How do you feel? Interoception: the sense of the physiological condition of the body. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2002 Aug;3(8):655-66. doi: 10.1038/nrn894. PMID: 12154366.

[2] Crucianelli, L., & Ehrsson, H. H. (2022). The role of the skin in interoception: A neglected organ? Perspectives on Psychological Science, 18(1), 224–238. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916221094509

[3] Crucianelli, L., Enmalm, A., & Ehrsson, H. H. (2022). Interoception as independent cardiac, thermosensory, nociceptive, and affective touch perceptual submodalities. Biological Psychology, 172, 108355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108355

[4] Khalsa, S. S., Adolphs, R., Cameron, O. G., Critchley, H. D., Davenport, P. W., Feinstein, J. S., Feusner, J. D., Garfinkel, S. N., Lane, R. D., Mehling, W. E., Meuret, A. E., Nemeroff, C. B., Oppenheimer, S., Petzschner, F. H., Pollatos, O., Rhudy, J. L., Schramm, L. P., Simmons, W. K., Stein, M. B., Stephan, K. E., Van den Bergh, O., Van Diest, I., & Paulus, M. P. (2018). Interoception and mental health: A roadmap. Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, 3(6), 501–513. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpsc.2017.12.004

Presenting Author: Amelia Jankowska
Submitting Author: Amelia Jankowska

Senior Author: Przemysław Bąbel

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: No

• Joanna Kłosowska: Phd - Pain Research Group, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
• Aleksandra Budzisz: Phd - Pain Research Group, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
• Elżbieta A. Bajcar: Phd - Pain Research Group, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
• Przemysław Bąbel: Prof. - Pain Research Group, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland