Perceptual Attention and Subjective Belief about Risk Alters Heartbeat-evoked Response

Abstract Heartbeat-evoked responses (HER) can be interpreted as prediction error signals modified by precision, which in turn are influenced by interoceptive attention. However, changes in interoceptive information processing that occur while computing or focusing on uncertain external environments have yet to be explored. This study examines alterations in HER driven by both interoceptive and exteroceptive attention. We suggest that variations in HER under different conditions could serve as unique neurobiological markers for individuals. Through behavioral modeling and electroencephalogram analysis, we verified HER changes when modifying subjective beliefs based on calculated risk from the external environment. This study demonstrates that the brain’s response to interoceptive information transcends mere sensation representation, instead reflecting subjective beliefs regarding one’s body and the external environment.