Different psychophysiological and clinical symptoms are linked to affective versus sensory vicarious pain experiences

• DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13826
• Publication Date: 2021-05-04T07:10:01Z
• Authors: V. Botan; H. D. Critchley; J. Ward
• Keywords: Interoception; Psychophysiology; Skin conductance; Body schema

Abstract For some people, seeing pain in others triggers a pain‐like experience themselves: these experiences can either be described sensory terms and localized to specific body parts (sensory‐localized, or S/L) affective nonlocalized whole‐body (affective‐general, A/G). In two studies, it is shown that are linked different clinical psychophysiological profiles relative controls. Study 1 shows the A/G profile symptoms of Blood‐Injection‐Injury Phobia whereas S/L tendency toward eating disorders. 2 poor interoceptive accuracy (for heartbeat detection) higher heart‐rate variability (HRV) when observing pain, which typically regarded as an index good autonomic emotion regulation. Neither group showed significant differences overall heart rate, systolic blood pressure (SBP), skin conductance response (SCR) no state trait anxiety. Overall, research points underlying mechanisms manifestations vicarious response. Affective‐General responders have strong subjective bodily (likely central origin given absence major responsiveness) coupled with worse ability read objective signals. Sensory‐localized their construct multi‐sensory schema (as evidenced by prior on Rubber Hand Illusion) enhanced cardiovagal (parasympathetic) reactivity often indicative better stress adaptation.