Interoceptive sensitivity as a proxy for emotional intensity and its relationship with perseverative cognition

Ricardo G Lugo,1 Kirsi Helkala,2 Benjamin J Knox,2 Øyvind Jøsok,2 Natalie M Lande,1 Stefan Sütterlin3,4 1Department of Psychology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway; 2Norwegian Defence Cyber Academy, Lillehammer, Norway; 3Faculty for Health and Welfare Sciences, Østfold University College, Oslo, Norway; 4CHDT Research Group, Oslo University Hospital, Halden, Norway Background: Technical advancement in military cyber defense poses increased cognitive demands on cyber officers. In the cyber domain, the influence of emotion on decision-making is rarely investigated. The purpose of this study was to assess psychophysiological correlation with perseverative cognitions during emotionally intensive/stressful situations in cyber military personnel. In line with parallel research on clinical samples high on perseverative cognition, we expected a decreased interoceptive sensitivity in officers with high levels of perseverative cognition.Method: We investigated this association in a sample of 27 cyber officer cadets.Results: Contrary to our hypothesis, there was no relationship between the factors.Discussion: Cyber officers might display characteristics not otherwise found in general populations. The cyber domain may lead to a selection process that attracts different profiles of cognitive and emotional processing. Keywords: cyber, perseverative cognitions, interoception, decision-makin