Program

Interoception, the processing and perception of signals from inside the body, affects how we experience and regulate social situations. For example, accurate interoception enhances the regulation of negative emotions caused by social exclusion. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the impact of interoception on social interaction is essential, as their negative facets, such as social stress, social isolation, and loneliness are fundamental risk factors for mental disorders. First, we delineate how social stress and isolation are associated with interoception, with an emphasis on both physiological stress axes. André Schulz (Luxembourg) will present two studies on the impact of acute and chronic stress on interoception. Thereafter, Aleksandra Piejka (Leipzig) will show how loneliness is related to interpersonal distance and peripersonal space during social situations in virtual reality settings. Then, Miriam Kipping (Ulm) will address how social stress effects on gastric interoception shapes eating behavior. Second, we introduce three interventions to modify interoception. In two studies, Lisa Lai (Luxembourg) investigated the impact of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) on the interoceptive brain network and social stress responsiveness. Finally, Carlos Ventura-Bolt (Potsdam) will address how transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) and heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback affect interoception and physiological stress axis activation. Our findings suggest a bi-directional effect between interoception and social stress/isolation in that stress may reduce interoception, but high interoception also helps to regulate the negative impact of social stress/isolation. TMS, taVNS, and HRV biofeedback were demonstrated as three intervention procedures that enhance interoception and, thereby, overcome negative consequences of social stress/isolation.