Interoceptive accuracy is associated with perceived environmental change under sensory deprivation
When external sensory input is reduced, perception becomes more dependent on internal signals. This study examined how interoceptive awareness and physiological arousal relate to perceived environmental change during sensory deprivation. Participants sat in an anechoic chamber blindfolded and with earplugs, continuously reporting perceived intensity of environmental change using a throttle. Electrodermal activity and heart rate were recorded. Interoceptive accuracy positively correlated with report intensity, duration, and count. Mixed-effects analyses showed significant interactions between time and electrodermal activity, indicating the relationship between physiological tendency and perceived change varied over the deprivation period.