Acute running improves mood via changes in interoceptive sensibility

Abstract

PurposeInteroception is the sensing and interpretation of internal bodily signals and may be a key process linking exercise-induced bodily changes to mood. This study examined whether acute moderate-intensity treadmill running changes interoception and mood states and whether running-related changes in interoception statistically account for mood improvement. MethodsTwenty-seven healthy young adults completed a within-subject crossover experiment consisting of 15 min of moderate-intensity treadmill running at 50% estimated [V]O2peak and seated rest on separate days. Before and after each condition, cardiac interoceptive accuracy was assessed using heartbeat counting and heartbeat tapping tasks, present-moment interoceptive sensibility using a state-adapted Body Perception Questionnaire (BPQ), and mood using the Profile of Mood States. Running-related changes were calculated as {Delta}RUN - {Delta}CTL. ResultsCompared with seated rest, running reduced total mood disturbance (TMD) and tension-anxiety (TA) and increased vigor-activity (VA). Running did not significantly change task-based indices of cardiac interoceptive accuracy but increased BPQ scores. Greater running-related increases in BPQ scores were associated with greater reductions in TMD (r = -.61, p < .001), TA (r = -.45, p = .018), and depression-dejection (r = -.49, p = .009). Greater increases in heartbeat tapping task d' were associated with greater increases in VA (r = .56, p = .003). Mediation analysis indicated that BPQ changes were statistically consistent with an indirect pathway linking running to reduced TMD, with weaker exploratory evidence for TA. ConclusionsA single bout of moderate-intensity running improved mood and increased present-moment interoceptive sensibility, but not task-based cardiac interoceptive accuracy. Enhanced subjective awareness of bodily sensations may be one proximal process related to the mood benefits of acute running.