Objective Bias in the perception of bodily sensations (interoception) can be dangerous or even fatal; for example, if we do not recognize signs of a stroke or take medication anytime we feel the slightest change in our body. Research consistently reports that anxiety is closely related to interoception and (mis)interpretation of bodily sensations, but little is known about more fundamental processes underlying this relationship. The aim of this project is to test whether categorization as basic perceptual process links anxiety and interoception via generalization and perceptual decision strategies. Bundling the continuous flow of interoceptive information into distinct categories such as “pain” or “pleasure” can facilitate perception and coping. By assigning sensations to interoceptive categories (e.g. symptom groups) we can infer information about causes and consequences and apply coping schemata fast and efficiently. Research on visual perception, however, suggests that anxiety can be related to excessive generalization which may turn into harmful over-generalization, particularly if stimuli are misclassified. We will test whether also in interoception, anxiety is related to excessive category-related generalization. Furthermore, we will test whether individuals higher in anxiety are more prone to take a “better safe than sorry” strategy and misclassify benign sensations (e.g. heartbeat and breathlessness associated with exercise) more often as sign of disease.We will test our hypotheses of categorization linking anxiety and interoception in a newly developed research paradigm. In contrast to traditional paradigms, it allows distinguishing interoceptive accuracy and bias. The project is of theoretical relevance by targeting fundamental processes linking anxiety and interoception. Furthermore, it is of clinical relevance by testing the relationship between anxiety and interoceptive classification strategies, which are related to choices in health behaviour. Fields of science humanitiesphilosophy, ethics and religionphilosophyepistemologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepharmacology and pharmacypharmaceutical drugssocial sciencespsychologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineallergologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicineneurologystroke Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2014-EF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF-EF) Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2014 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinator UNIVERSITE DU LUXEMBOURG Net EU contribution € 172 800,00 Address 2 PLACE DE L'UNIVERSITE 4365 ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE Luxembourg See on map Region Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 172 800,00