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)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| 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 Audiology Clinical psychology |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key findings | 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.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on meditation, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations in Brain and Immune Function Produced by Mindfulness Meditation Healthy employees in a work environment | 2003 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 41 |
| Prevention of relapse/recurrence in major depression by mindfulness-based cognitive therapy. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2000 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 145 |
| Open hearts build lives: Positive emotions, induced through loving-kindness meditation, build consequential personal resources. Working adults | 2008 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 139 |
| Short-term meditation training improves attention and self-regulation Undergraduate Chinese students | 2007 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 40 |
| Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression: Replication and Exploration of Differential Relapse Prevention Effects. Recovered recurrently depressed patients | 2004 | Randomized controlled trial | n = 73 |
Citations in the library
Cites 18
- How Does Mindfulness Meditation Work? Proposing Mechanisms of Action From a Conceptual and Neural Perspective Perspectives on Psychological Science October 14, 2011
- Interoception, contemplative practice, and health Frontiers in Psychology June 9, 2015
- Multisensory integration across exteroceptive and interoceptive domains modulates self-experience in the rubber-hand illusion Neuropsychologia August 28, 2013
- Individual participant data systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials assessing adult mindfulness-based programmes for mental health promotion in non-clinical settings. Nature Mental Health July 10, 2023
- The impact of a brief mindfulness training on interoception: A randomized controlled trial PLoS One September 7, 2022
and 13 more in the library