Neurofunctional correlates of interoceptive attentiveness: an EEG source localization study

Interoception refers to the ability to sense modifications of internal bodily states. The accurate perception of internal states is crucial for self-regulation, as well as for higher-order cognitive-affective processes. Despite increasing attention on interoceptive attentiveness (IAtt), little is known about its neurofunctional correlates and potential objective biomarkers of IAtt performance. 36 volunteers took part in this study and were asked to undergo a heart-beat counting task (HCT), a widely-used IAtt task. Central electrophysiological (EEG) and cardiovascular activity was monitored during both resting-state and HCT. Intracortical sources of EEG signals were estimated via eLORETA. Contrast analyses comparing HCT and resting highlighted higher current density estimates for Alpha frequency during the task, with primary cortical seed in the right parahippocampal gyrus. Regression analyses exploring the association between IAtt scores and task-related changes in intracortical current density during HCT have highlighted a positive association for the Beta frequency bands, with primary cortical seeds in cingulate gyrus and insula. Findings add to available literature by further specifying the electrophysiological signature of interoceptive attentiveness