Interoceptive differences in elite sprint and long-distance runners: A multidimensional investigation

Interoception, the process of detecting and interpreting bodily sensations, may facilitate self-regulation and thereby play a crucial role in achieving elite performance in competitive sports. However, there is a lack of research conducted in world-class athletes. In the present research, two studie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2023-01, Vol.18 (1), p.e0278067-e0278067
Main Authors: Seabury, Tom, Benton, David, Young, Hayley A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accuracy
Anxiety
Athletes
Attention
Auditory Perception
Awareness - physiology
Biology and Life Sciences
Emotions
Emotions - physiology
Endurance
Exercise
Explicit knowledge
Health aspects
Heart
Heart rate
Heart Rate - physiology
Humans
Interoception - physiology
Investigations
Laws, regulations and rules
Medicine and Health Sciences
Methods
Physical fitness
Psychological aspects
Psychophysiology
Runners (Sports)
Running
Self Report
Sensation
Social aspects
Social Sciences
Surveys and Questionnaires
Track & field
Ventilation
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Summary:Interoception, the process of detecting and interpreting bodily sensations, may facilitate self-regulation and thereby play a crucial role in achieving elite performance in competitive sports. However, there is a lack of research conducted in world-class athletes. In the present research, two studies examined self-reported (interoceptive sensibility) and behavioural (interoceptive accuracy) interoception in elite (top 100 ranking) sprint and long-distance runners, and non-athletes. Study 1 used the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness Questionnaire. Sprinters reported having better regulation of attention to internal sensations, greater emotional awareness, better self-regulation, and reported a greater propensity to listen to their body for insight, than distance runners. Compared to non-athletes, sprinters and distance runners had more bodily trust, attention regulation, and self-regualtion. Additionally, elite athletes reported lower emotional awareness, self-regulation, and body listening. Study 2 examined cardioception using two tasks: The Heartbeat Counting Task, and The Heartbeat Detection Task. Elite and non-elite runners performed the tasks under two conditions; in silence, and whilst listening to pre-recorded crowd noise that simulated the live sounds of spectators during a sporting event. Sprinters and distance runners were able to maintain heartbeat detection accuracy when distracted, whereas non-athletes could not. Across both tasks, compared to non-athletes, sprinters and distance runners were more confident than non-athletes in their interoceptive percept. Additionally, elite athletes compared to non-elite athletes were less accurate when counting their heartbeat and were characterised by a higher interoceptive prediction error. Athletic populations have altered interoceptive abilities.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0278067