Original Article
The Influence of Interoception on Skin Temperature Biofeedback Training
2026 Volume 53 Issue 1 Pages 2-12
Details
2026 Volume 53 Issue 1 Pages 2-12
In stressful situations such as presentations, symptoms such as a racing heart and cold fingertips may occur. These sensations are referred to as interoception. Biofeedback-mediated regulation of physiological signals may be influenced by such interoceptive sensations.
In this study, we employed a low-cost skin temperature biofeedback device that can be easily used at home to examine the effects of a three-week training program on skin temperature regulation, and we simultaneously investigated the influence of interoceptive sensitivity. The study was divided into two phases : (1) home-based training and (2) efficacy measurements in a university laboratory. During the home-based training phase, participants performed increase training and decrease training for three weeks. In the laboratory efficacy assessments, to verify the effects of home training, four measurements were conducted at one-week intervals. Skin temperature was measured on the volar side of the distal phalanx of the second finger of the non-dominant hand. Interoceptive sensitivity was assessed using the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness.
The results showed that even within a short three-week period, participants’ ability to regulate skin temperature improved, with a particularly pronounced increase observed during increase training. Moreover, control performance enhanced with repeated sessions, and there was a trend toward greater skin temperature change from the second session onward compared to the first. Additionally, sex differences were observed : males exhibited greater skin temperature changes during increase training than during decrease training, whereas females did not show a clear difference based on training direction. Furthermore, higher interoceptive sensitivity was associated with better skin temperature regulation performance, with individuals demonstrating greater bodily awareness tending to achieve training effects more readily.
