Two weeks to tune in: Evaluating the effects of a short‐term body scan on interoception
Andreas Schwerdtfeger, Bernhard Weber, Christian Rominger
Applied Psychology Health and Well-Being September 4, 2025 DOI: 10.1111/aphw.70073 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA two-week daily auditory body scan intervention can enhance interoception—the perception of internal bodily signals—as measured by heartbeat detection tasks and self-reported awareness. Two pre-registered randomized trials compared the body scan to guided imagery (Study 1, 85 participants) or a passive control (Study 2, 90 participants). Both studies found improvements in heartbeat tracking accuracy, confidence in bodily perceptions, and multidimensional interoceptive awareness after the body scan. However, guided imagery produced similar benefits, suggesting that structured attention to the body, rather than the specific practice, may drive these effects.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 175 |
| Population | Participants with mean ages 22.26 and 23.05, predominantly women |
| Interventions | auditory body scan guided imagery |
| Duration | 2-week intervention |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Interoception Randomized controlled trial Confidence interval Heartbeat |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key finding | A two-week daily auditory body scan intervention improves interoceptive accuracy and sensibility, though guided imagery yields comparable effects. |
Abstract
Abstract Mindfulness practices, such as the body scan, could enhance interoception. While prior research shows promise for its effects on interoceptive sensibility (IS; subjective experience of bodily cues) and accuracy (IAcc; accurate detection of bodily signals), studies often use a limited set of interoceptive variables or apply small samples. In two pre‐registered randomized trials, we examined a 2‐week daily auditory body scan intervention vs. active control (guided imagery; Study 1) or passive control (Study 2). Study 1 included N = 85 participants ( M age = 22.26, 71% women), randomized to body scan or guided imagery. Study 2 included N = 90 participants ( M age = 23.05, 80% women), randomized to body scan or passive control. IAcc was measured pre‐ and post‐intervention using the heartbeat tracking task (HTT) and heartbeat discrimination task (HDT), while IS was assessed via confidence ratings and the multidimensional assessment of interoceptive awareness (MAIA‐2). Study 1 showed significant time effects for IAcc (HTT: p < .001; HDT: p = .012), confidence ratings ( p 's < .001), and MAIA‐2 ( p < .001). Study 2 found improvements following the body scan for IAcc (HTT: p = .050), confidence ratings (HTT: p = .006; HDT: p = .0496), and MAIA‐2 ( p = .003). Findings suggest that body scan enhances interoception within two weeks, though guided imagery and similar approaches may yield comparable effects.