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

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.

Figures (10)

• Figure 1: (A) Study setup with a participant drinking water through a straw while gut sounds are being played back to the participant via two sound transducers (SolidDrive SD1) attached to the back of a chair and the participant's belly. (B) Apparatus components consisting of a CORENGTH Belt to strap the sound transducer to the participant's belly, two 2L water bottles, and several straws with a length of 1m and an inner diameter of 4mm.
• Figure 2: Scattered plots of bowel sounds distribution over time and their duration. CRS: Continuous Random Sounds, LHS: Long Harmonic Sounds, MB: Multiple Bursts, SB: Single Bursts
• Figure 3: Stimuli selection pipeline. 1 Bowel sounds from 7 participants were recorded and labeled in two four categories. 2 Category-specific stimuli were created by isolating bowel sounds of each target category. 3 Keep the second half. 3 Remove candidates with less than 1 sound/minute.
• Figure 4: Hunger and fullness analysis.
• Figure 5: Minute-wise feeling distribution by individual stimulus. SB: Single Bust, MB: Multiple Bursts, LHS: Long Harmonic Sounds, CRS: Continuous Random Sounds.