Abstract
In this paper, we describe and test a new portable device that is able to deliver tactile interoceptive stimulation. The device works by delivering precise interoceptive parasympathetic stimuli to C-tactile afferents connected to the lamina I spinothalamocortical system. In humans, interoceptive stimulation can be used to enhance heart rate variability (HRV). To test the effectiveness of the device in enhancing HRV, 13 subjects were randomly assigned in a single-blind between-subjects design either to the experimental condition or to the control condition. In the experimental condition, subjects received stimulation with the developed device; in the control condition subjects received stimulation with static non-interoceptive pressure. Subjects’ electrocardiograms (ECG) were recorded, with sampling at 1000 Hz for 5 min as a baseline, and then during the stimulations (11 min). Time domain analyses were performed to estimate the short-term vagally mediated component (rMSSD) of HRV. Results indicated that the experimental group showed enhanced rMSSD, compared to the control group. Moreover, frequency domain analyses indicated that high frequency band power, which reflects parasympathetic activity in humans, also appeared to be enhanced in the experimental group compared to control subjects. Conclusions and future challenges for an embodied perspective of rehabilitative medicine are discussed.
Highlights
Traditional approaches to body perception are usually focused upon the role of proprioceptive signals; recent perspectives have identified inputs that come from inside the body as core elements in human well-being
To validate the effect of the device, we considered evidence from previous literature that indicated a positive effect of interoceptive tactile stimulation upon heart rate variability (HRV) [45]
We presented and validated the interoceptive stimulator in a single-blind between-subjects design, hypothesizing that the device will enhance HRV in the experimental between-subjects design, hypothesizing that the device will enhance HRV in the experimental group, group, compared to a control group that will receive non-interoceptive tactile stimulation
Summary
Traditional approaches to body perception are usually focused upon the role of proprioceptive signals; recent perspectives have identified inputs that come from inside the body (i.e., interoceptive) as core elements in human well-being. Human models indicated that interoceptive touch can reduce and modulate pain perception [34,35,36], while animal models suggested that CT afferents can modulate anxiety and chronic stress [37,38,39] This evidence suggests a promising role of CT interoceptive stimulation in different fields, from clinical applications to sensing technology and assessment; the same evidence underlines the need for technological devices that are able to deliver interoceptive tactile stimulation, both for applied and basic research. These devices are usually connected to a fixed setup, limiting the portability of the instrument in different settings (i.e., hospitals, laboratories) and the possibility to apply stimulation to different body parts of a subject To address these issues, the paper describes a new portable device that is designed to deliver tactile interoceptive stimuli. Time domain index primarily connected to vagally-mediated changes [48]
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