Interoception and Empathy Impact Perspective Taking

Adopting the perspective of another person is an important aspect social cognition and has been shown to depend on multisensory signals from one’s own body. Recent work suggests that interoceptive not only contribute own-body perception self-consciousness, but also empathy. Here we investigated if – in particular adopting can be altered by a systematic manipulation cues further, this effect depends empathic ability. The transformation task (OBT) wherein participants are instructed imagine taking position virtual body presented computer screen offers effective way measure reaction time differences linked mental effort other’s perspective. Here, adapted OBT with flashing silhouette surrounding body, either synchronously or asynchronously timing participants’ heartbeats. We evaluated impact cardio-visual synchrony times accuracy rates OBT. Empathy was assessed empathy quotient (EQ) questionnaire. Based previous using paradigm, predicted synchronous (vs. asynchronous) stimulation would increase self-identification facilitate ability adopt body’s perspective, thereby enhancing performance task, particularly higher scores. report high showed significantly better during versus asynchronous stimulation. Moreover, found significant positive correlation between (the difference conditions). conclude participant’s makes it easier presumably based integration processes. However, depended ability, suggesting empathy, interoception inherently linked.