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Relações entre interoceção, variabilidade da frequência cardíaca e funcionamento cognitivo : um estudo exploratório
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Enquadramento Teórico: Atualmente, a interoceção é reconhecida como um conjunto de processos complexos através do quais o sistema nervoso capta, processa e integra sinais fisiológicos, criando uma constante representação compreensiva do estado interno do corpo. Estes sinais são posteriormente processados e contextualizados, de modo a orientar respostas fisiológicas conscientes e inconscientes, influenciando o processamento emocional e cognitivo. A variabilidade da frequência cardíaca constitui um indicador do equilíbrio entre as componentes simpática e parassimpática do sistema nervoso autónomo, refletindo a sua adaptabilidade e responsividade face às alterações e necessidades percecionadas. Estudos recentes destacam o estabelecimento de um mecanismo de feedback entre estes processos fisiológicos, subjacente a um conjunto de regiões cerebrais integradas na central autonomic network, verificando-se um efeito modulatório da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca sobre a capacidade interocetiva, com possíveis implicações no funcionamento emocional e cognitivo. Metodologia: O presente estudo foi elaborado com o objetivo de estudar esta relação e a sua influência sobre o funcionamento cognitivo, desenvolvendo-se a hipótese de um efeito preditivo individual e combinado destas variáveis no desempenho de uma tarefa de memória de curto-prazo. Foi incluída uma amostra não probabilística de quarenta e um participantes saudáveis. Inicialmente, foram aplicados os questionários de avaliação da saúde psicológica, seguidos do preenchimento do questionário MAIA, para avaliação da sensibilidade interocetiva e da realização da tarefa de memória de dígitos, para avaliação do funcionamento cognitivo. Posteriormente, foi realizada a gravação das medidas fisiológicas basais dos participantes através de um eletrocardiograma e, por fim, foi efetuada a tarefa de deteção do batimento cardíaco. Resultados: Não foram encontradas correlações entre a interoceção e a variabilidade da frequência cardíaca, mas observou-se uma associação positiva III entre a HRV e a sensibilidade interocetiva. Para além disto, verificou-se uma corelação positiva e um efeito preditor entre a precisão interocetiva e a tarefa de memória de dígitos. Discussão: A capacidade interocetiva desempenha um papel fundamental no âmbito da manutenção da homeostase, do processamento emocional e no funcionamento cognitivo, orientando as respostas fisiológicas de acordo com o meio que nos rodeia. Neste sentido, a literatura científica atual evidencia uma relação entre a perceção de sensações corporais e a capacidade de resposta do organismo, indicada pela variabilidade de frequência cardíaca. Os resultados obtidos não foram de encontro ao esperado, no entanto, evidenciaram uma associação entre a regulação autonómica e a dimensão emocional da sensibilidade interocetiva, o que reflete a implicação destas componentes na experiência emocional, e uma relação positiva e preditiva entre a capacidade interocetiva e o desempenho em tarefas cognitivas simples, o que reflete o papel da interoceção no funcionamento cognitivo. Conclusão: A presente investigação exploratória apresenta evidências preliminares sobre a relação entre a interoceção e a regulação autonómica e as suas implicações no funcionamento cognitivo e emocional. Ainda que não se tenham verificado algumas associações esperadas, fornece informações importantes sobre as diferentes dimensões integradas no processo complexo da interoceção e da sua implicação na responsividade autonómica e no funcionamento cognitivo
Theorical Background: Currently, interoception is recognized as a set of complex processes through which the nervous system captures, processes and integrates physiological signals, creating a constant comprehensive representation of the internal state of the body. These signals are then processed and contextualized, in order to guide conscious and unconscious physiological responses, influencing emotional and cognitive processing. Heart rate variability is an indicator of the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system, reflecting its adaptability and responsiveness to the perceived needs. Recent studies highlight the establishment of a feedback mechanism between these physiological processes, underlying a set of brain regions integrated into the central autonomic network, verifying a modulatory effect of heart rate variability on interoceptive capacity, with possible implications for emotional and cognitive functioning. Methodology: The present study was designed with the main objective of studying this relationship and its influence in cognitive functioning, developing the hypothesis of an individual and combined predictive effect on the performance of a short-term memory task. A non-probability sample of forty-one healthy participants was included. Initially, psychological health assessment questionnaires were administered, followed by completion of the MAIA questionnaire to assess interoceptive sensitivity and the digit memory task to assess cognitive functioning. Afterwards, the participants' baseline physiological measurements were recorded using an electrocardiogram and, finally, the heartbeat detection task was carried out. Results: No correlations were found between interoception and heart rate variability, but there was a positive association between HRV and interoceptive sensibility. In addition, there was a positive correlation and a predictive effect between interoceptive accuracy and the digit memory task. I Discussion: Interoceptive ability plays a fundamental role in maintaining homeostasis, emotional processing and cognitive functioning, guiding physiological responses in accordance with our environment. In this sense, current scientific literature shows a relationship between the perception of bodily sensations and the body's ability to respond, as indicated by heart rate variability. The results obtained were not as expected, however, they did show an association between autonomic regulation and the emotional dimension of interoceptive sensibility, which reflects the involvement of these components in emotional experience, and a positive and predictive relationship between interoceptive capacity and performance in simple cognitive tasks, which reflects interoception’s role in cognitive functioning. Conclusion: This exploratory research provides preliminary evidence on the relationship between interoception and autonomic regulation and its implications for cognitive and emotional functioning. Although some expected associations were not verified, it provides valuable information on the different dimensions integrated into the complex process of interoception and its implication in autonomic responsiveness and cognitive functioning.
Theorical Background: Currently, interoception is recognized as a set of complex processes through which the nervous system captures, processes and integrates physiological signals, creating a constant comprehensive representation of the internal state of the body. These signals are then processed and contextualized, in order to guide conscious and unconscious physiological responses, influencing emotional and cognitive processing. Heart rate variability is an indicator of the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the autonomic nervous system, reflecting its adaptability and responsiveness to the perceived needs. Recent studies highlight the establishment of a feedback mechanism between these physiological processes, underlying a set of brain regions integrated into the central autonomic network, verifying a modulatory effect of heart rate variability on interoceptive capacity, with possible implications for emotional and cognitive functioning. Methodology: The present study was designed with the main objective of studying this relationship and its influence in cognitive functioning, developing the hypothesis of an individual and combined predictive effect on the performance of a short-term memory task. A non-probability sample of forty-one healthy participants was included. Initially, psychological health assessment questionnaires were administered, followed by completion of the MAIA questionnaire to assess interoceptive sensitivity and the digit memory task to assess cognitive functioning. Afterwards, the participants' baseline physiological measurements were recorded using an electrocardiogram and, finally, the heartbeat detection task was carried out. Results: No correlations were found between interoception and heart rate variability, but there was a positive association between HRV and interoceptive sensibility. In addition, there was a positive correlation and a predictive effect between interoceptive accuracy and the digit memory task. I Discussion: Interoceptive ability plays a fundamental role in maintaining homeostasis, emotional processing and cognitive functioning, guiding physiological responses in accordance with our environment. In this sense, current scientific literature shows a relationship between the perception of bodily sensations and the body's ability to respond, as indicated by heart rate variability. The results obtained were not as expected, however, they did show an association between autonomic regulation and the emotional dimension of interoceptive sensibility, which reflects the involvement of these components in emotional experience, and a positive and predictive relationship between interoceptive capacity and performance in simple cognitive tasks, which reflects interoception’s role in cognitive functioning. Conclusion: This exploratory research provides preliminary evidence on the relationship between interoception and autonomic regulation and its implications for cognitive and emotional functioning. Although some expected associations were not verified, it provides valuable information on the different dimensions integrated into the complex process of interoception and its implication in autonomic responsiveness and cognitive functioning.
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Keywords
Precisão interocetiva Sensibilidade interocetiva Variabilidade da frequência cardíaca Funcionamento cognitivo Memória de trabalho Interoceptive accuracy Interoceptive sensibility Heart rate variability Cognitive functioning Working memory