This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Tracy, J. Articles by Waldron, B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Tracy, J. Articles by Waldron, B. Related Collections Somatoform Radiology and Brain Imaging

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Analysis of Attention to One’s Heartbeat

From the Departments of Neurology (J.T., N.G., J.L., B.W.), Radiology (J.T., A.F., P.N.), and Radiologic Sciences (R.W.), Thomas Jefferson University/Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Joseph I. Tracy, PhD, ABPP (CN), Associate Professor of Neurology and Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University/Jefferson Medical College, 900 Walnut Street, Suite 206, Philadelphia, PA 19107. E-mail: joseph.i.tracy{at}jefferson.edu

Objectives: The convergence of a neural system for monitoring external stimuli with mechanisms that process somatic information leads to the hypothesis that the anterior parietal cortex may mediate attention to a specific internal visceral signal.

Methods: We measured regional brain activity through functional magnetic resonance imaging and directed subjects (6 men and 11 women) to attend to their own heartbeat, and to a heartbeat played on an external tape.

Results: Statistical parametric brain mapping revealed the importance of right (nondominant) parietal cortex to directing attention internally to one’s visceral state and focusing on a specific body signal.

Conclusions: The parietal activation may be taking advantage of monitoring skills typically utilized for vigilance to the external environment, in addition to working as a higher-level recognition system for signals emerging from the viscera. The finding suggests that the parietal cortex plays a central role in an interoceptive attention system that monitors bodily states.

Key Words: attention • interoceptive processing • visceral processing • somatic processing

Abbreviations: TE = echo time; TR = repetition time; FOV = field of view; hz = hertz; db = decibel; SPM = statistical parametric mapping; ROI = region of interest; BA = Brodmann’s area.