Systematic review of the evidence of interoceptive awareness in performers

Abstract

Ismael Pedraza, 2016. Systematic review of the evidence of interoceptive awareness in performers. Master s thesis in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Department of Sport Sciences. University of Jyväskylä. Pp. 53.

Interoception is the conscious awareness of internal sensations coming from autonomic responses of the body including inputs such as visceral sensations, heart rate, sensations of tight muscles, etc. Those sensations are experienced due to the autonomic nervous system that is in charge of controlling and regulating bodily functions and cannot be manipulated intentionally. Previous research on interoception in performers has shown that a relationship exists between our inner bodily sensations and emotional experiences, and furthermore, between our energy management and decision making, which are fundamental aspects of optimal performance. The aim of this study was to summarize the available evidence of the effects of body awareness on an interoceptive level in performers.

The study comprises of a literature search on interoception and its relationship with performance. The search was done using the following databases: PubMed, SPORTDiscus and PsycINFO. To ensure validity and quality, the reviews inclusion criteria were determined by solely including papers that have focused on body awareness, interoception, and healthy performers. The papers were required to be peer-reviewed journals and were searched in both English and Spanish. The exclusion criterion was applied to papers that were related to different components of interoception but involved body awareness. These included studies on proprioception, body image, self-image and medical treatment.

After removing duplicates a total of 543 articles were screened. This left only 12 articles which met the inclusion criteria. Interestingly, with regards the design of the reviewed studies, solely one paper used an experimental design out of 12. Also present was one phenomenological study, whereas ten exploratory designs were found. The results indicated that interoception is linked with significant areas of the brain that facilitate attentional control, emotion regulation, and awareness. Furthermore, studies have shown that the working memory is an important tool in cognitive processing, focus attention and decision making. Studies have concluded that the neurological basis of elite performers has better activation of the insula than non-elite athletes.

In conclusion, present results offer important insights into the developments of the interoception and performance fields. It is paramount to understand the differences between elite performers and novice counterparts in regards to the perception of bodily symptoms. However, it is still unclear to whether or not there is a way to practice and become more interoceptively aware or not. Suggestions for future research should continue with the unification of the terminology associated with interoception. Additionally, there is a need to conduct experimental randomized control trials focusing on athletes, evaluating the perception of inner bodily signals across different sport modalities. Furthermore, exploring these concepts in the field of exercise would not only benefit young people in facilitating more attractive methods of activity promotion, but also amongst obese or sedentary populations.