VisceroHaptics: Investigating the Effects of Gut-based Audio-Haptic Feedback on Gastric Feelings and Gastric Interoceptive Behavior

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that gut-based audio-haptic feedback can noninvasively modulate gastric feelings and interoceptive behavior, influencing hunger, fullness, and water intake in humans.

Contribution

It provides the first evidence that audio-haptic stimulation can alter gastric interoceptive behavior, opening new avenues for healthcare and human-computer interaction.

Findings

Audio-haptic feedback induces feelings of hunger, fullness, and stomach upset.

It increases hunger levels among participants.

It significantly increases water intake during the test.

Abstract

Gastric interoception influences eating behavior and emotions, making its modulation valuable for healthcare and human-computer-interaction applications. However, whether gastric interoception can be modulated noninvasively in humans remains unclear. While previous research indicates that abdominal-sound-driven haptic feedback resembles gut sensations, its impact on feelings and gastric interoceptive behavior is unknown. We conducted three experiments totalling 55 participants to investigate how gut-sound-driven audio-haptic feedback applied to the stomach (1) affects user's feelings (2) influences perception of hunger and satiety levels and (3) influences gastric interoceptive behavior, quantified with Water Load Test-II. Results revealed that audio-haptic feedback patterns (a) induced the feelings of hunger, fullness, thirst, stomach upset, (b) increased hunger level, and (c) significantly increased volumes of ingested water. This work provides the first evidence showing that audio-haptic stimulation can alter gastric interoceptive behavior, motivating the use of noninvasive methods to influence users' feelings and behaviors in future applications.