The role of fearful beliefs in the relationship between situational self-awareness and report of breathing-related sensations

Abstract

Gating models of sensory perception suggest that increased attention towards the self leads to more on-line processing of sensory information and less report bias. However, little is known about the interaction of self-awareness with fearful beliefs about bodily sensations. In the present study, we explored report bias of breathing-related sensation under increased self-awareness compared to increased focus on external cues related to breathlessness. We expected report bias under internal focus to be lower than under external focus. However, we expected this effect of internal focus to be moderated by fearful beliefs about bodily sensations. Thirty participants completed two appointments in which attention was directed either towards the self or towards the surroundings. On both sessions, participants' detection threshold for inspiratory loads, negative mood, and fear of bodily sensations was assessed. Changes in threshold were tested using repeated measures ANOVA. The role of fear of bodily sensations was tested in a within-subject moderation analysis. Relative over report of sensations was lower under internal focus compared to external focus. However, this effect was moderated by fear of bodily sensations: the greater fear of bodily sensations was, the lower the effect of self-awareness. Results encourage research on the interaction of self-awareness and fearful beliefs in the top-down modulation of perception.