This study will examine the immediate (acute) effects of a single, 30-minute body awareness session on brain activity and interoceptive accuracy in healthy young adults aged 18-25. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: an intervention group, which will complete a structured body awareness exercise based on Basic Body Awareness Therapy, or a control group, which will rest quietly for the same amount of time without any specific instructions.
Before and after the session, brain activity will be recorded using a portable, 8-channel EEG device, and interoceptive accuracy will be measured with a heartbeat perception task, in which participants try to count their own heartbeats without checking their pulse. The main goal is to determine whether a single body awareness session produces measurable changes in EEG brain wave patterns (theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands) and in the accuracy of heartbeat perception, and whether these two types of change are related to each other.
Age 18-25 years
Self-reported healthy status
Literate in Turkish
Willing and able to provide written informed consent
Active epilepsy or seizure history
Diagnosed psychiatric disorder
Neurological disorder
Cardiac arrhythmia, pacemaker, heart disease
Parallel
Basic Body Awareness Therapy Intervention
Other interventionA single \~30-minute body awareness session delivered in a quiet, well-ventilated room with minimal distraction. The session follows a structured sequence of low-intensity, pain-free, non-strenuous body awareness exercises performed in supine, sitting, and standing positions, guided verbally by a trained physiotherapist or researcher. The session focuses on conscious awareness of posture, contact points, breathing, and movement quality rather than physical performance, strength, or flexibility. Participants are instructed to move without forcing and to report any pain, dizziness, or discomfort during the session.
No Intervention/Sham Comparator
Other interventionA single \~30-minute quiet resting session delivered in the same room and under the same environmental conditions as the intervention session. Participants will be asked to remain in a comfortable seated or supine position, close their eyes or fix their gaze on a stationary point, and rest quietly for the full duration. No specific breathing, body awareness, or movement instructions will be given. Participants will be informed that they may notify the researcher if they experience any discomfort.
Change in EEG Theta Band Power
Absolute power (µV²) in the theta frequency band (4-8 Hz), calculated from EEG recordings before and after the body awareness intervention.
Change in EEG Alpha Band Power
Absolute power (µV²) in the alpha frequency band (8-13 Hz), calculated from EEG recordings before and after the body awareness intervention.
Change in EEG Beta Band Power
Absolute power (µV²) in the beta frequency band (13-30 Hz), calculated from EEG recordings before and after the body awareness intervention.
Change in EEG Gamma Band Power
Absolute power (µV²) in the gamma frequency band (30-45 Hz), calculated from EEG recordings before and after the body awareness intervention.
Change in interoceptive accuracy score
Interoceptive accuracy will be measured using a normalized accuracy score derived from the Schandry heartbeat perception task, ranging from 0 to 1, where higher scores indicate greater accuracy in perceiving one's own heartbeat (i.e., better interoceptive accuracy).
Correlation Between Change in EEG Theta Band Power and Change in Interoceptive Accuracy Score
The relationship between the pre-post change in EEG theta band power (4-8 Hz, measured via 8-channel EEG) and the pre-post change in interoceptive accuracy score (measured via the Schandry heartbeat perception task) will be evaluated using Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients, as appropriate to the data distribution.
Correlation Between Change in EEG Alpha Band Power and Change in Interoceptive Accuracy Score
The relationship between the pre-post change in EEG alpha band power (8-13 Hz, measured via 8-channel EEG) and the pre-post change in interoceptive accuracy score (measured via the Schandry heartbeat perception task) will be evaluated using Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients, as appropriate to the data distribution.
Correlation Between Change in EEG Beta Band Power and Change in Interoceptive Accuracy Score
The relationship between the pre-post change in EEG beta band power (13-30 Hz, measured via 8-channel EEG) and the pre-post change in interoceptive accuracy score (measured via the Schandry heartbeat perception task) will be evaluated using Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients, as appropriate to the data distribution.
Correlation Between Change in EEG Gamma Band Power and Change in Interoceptive Accuracy Score
The relationship between the pre-post change in EEG gamma band power (30-45 Hz, measured via 8-channel EEG) and the pre-post change in interoceptive accuracy score (measured via the Schandry heartbeat perception task) will be evaluated using Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients, as appropriate to the data distribution.
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Ertugrul Deniz Kose
Lead sponsor
Hitit University
Sponsor institution
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