Interoception decision and stress

This study introduced anticipatory feelings (AF), a novel physiological measure of interoception quantified via Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) during a guessing game, as a dynamic assessment of intuitive decision-making. We investigated the interplay between interoception, stress (using the Perceived Stress Scale), and decision-making (using the Iowa Gambling Task) in 35 business students. Results from a linear regression model indicated that higher AF scores significantly predicted better IGT performance (β = 0.046, p = .020), while elevated stress levels were associated with impaired IGT performance (β = -1.266, p = .024). Furthermore, engagement in yoga (β = 16.44, p = .006) and meditation (β = 11.00, p = .001) practices showed significant positive associations with IGT performance. Post-hoc power analysis for the regression model indicated adequate power (> .85) to detect the effects of yoga and meditation on IGT performance, but moderate power (.72) for the effect of AF. A one-way ANOVA comparing yoga practitioners to non-practitioners revealed a statistically significant higher level of IGT performance in the yoga group (p<.001, d = 1.01) with high power (1.00), but only a modest, albeit significant, difference in AF scores (p=.033, d = 0.43) with lower power (.67). These findings underscore the role of interoceptive awareness in navigating uncertainty and highlight the detrimental impact of stress on intuitive processes, while suggesting potential benefits of stress management practices for decision-making. This research advances understanding of how stress management can preserve and enhance intuitive decision-making in high-pressure professional environments.

本研究引入了预期感受（anticipatory feelings, AF）——一种通过猜谜游戏期间的皮肤电反应（Galvanic Skin Response, GSR）量化的新型内感受生理指标——将其作为直觉决策的动态评估手段。我们以35名商科学生为研究对象，探究了内感受、知觉压力（采用知觉压力量表（Perceived Stress Scale）评估）与决策行为（采用爱荷华赌博任务（Iowa Gambling Task）评估）之间的相互作用。线性回归模型结果显示，更高的AF得分可显著预测更佳的爱荷华赌博任务表现（β=0.046，p=0.020）；而较高的压力水平则与较差的爱荷华赌博任务表现相关（β=-1.266，p=0.024）。此外，练习瑜伽（β=16.44，p=0.006）与冥想（β=11.00，p=0.001）均与爱荷华赌博任务表现存在显著的正向关联。针对该回归模型的事后效力分析表明，其检测瑜伽、冥想对爱荷华赌博任务表现影响的效力充足（>0.85），但检测AF影响的效力中等（0.72）。将瑜伽练习者与非练习者进行对比的单因素方差分析（one-way ANOVA）结果显示，瑜伽组的爱荷华赌博任务表现显著更高（p<0.001，d=1.01），且效力为1.00；但AF得分仅存在小幅且显著的组间差异（p=0.033，d=0.43），效力较低（0.67）。本研究结果凸显了内感受觉知在应对不确定性中的作用，并阐明了压力对直觉决策过程的负面影响，同时提示压力管理实践对决策行为可能存在益处。本研究增进了对高压职业环境中，压力管理如何维持并提升直觉决策能力这一问题的理解。