What to Expect
In this part of the Em-Body Study we want to investigate how interoception (the sense you have of the internal state of your body) relates to your ability to recognise, differentiate, and regulate emotions, and whether this relates to symptoms of anxiety and depression.
To answer this question, we will:
ask you questions about your emotions and any symptoms of anxiety and depression that you might experience.
record your body signals - from your heart, breathing, and gut - and ask you questions about them.
Before the testing session
In preparation for the study, you will be asked to not eat or drink anything (including water) for three hours before your testing session (e.g. if your testing session starts at 2pm, please do not eat or drink between 11am and 2pm). It is also important that you remove excess body hair on your abdomen.
We will provide a delicious snack from 'the gut stuff' part way through the session to fuel your participation.
Getting to the ICN
Your testing session will happen during a single 4-hour visit at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience (ICN) at UCL.
Plan your journey
The nearest Underground stations: Russell Square Holborn Kings Cross Plan your journey here: https://tfl.gov.uk/
The nearest bus stop: Southampton Row (Stop B) serviced by routes: 1 68 91 Plan your journey here: https://tfl.gov.uk/
The nearest place to park: Street Parking Imperial Hotel (£16, 4 hours) Bedford Hotel (£14, 4 hours) More information: https://en.parkopedia.com/parking/locations/queen_square_idhigcpvj5r1bzx803/?arriving=202412201330&leaving=202412201730#google_vignette
Once you arrive
Sign in at the ICN reception, and take a seat!
Then, you will meet a friendly member of our research team.
Beth
Wilson
Adrian
Hannah
They will walk with you to the study room, and give you an overview of what you need to do. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions before you start, and you can ask more at any point throughout!
During the testing session
You will be asked a series of questions about yourself (e.g. age, gender, sex assigned at birth, current medication use, current or previous mental and/or physical health condition diagnosis), and you will be asked to complete questionnaires about your emotions and how you feel, as well as mental health symptoms.
You will then perform a series of tasks where we will assess your ability to detect signals coming from within your body, such as your heart rate, or breathing, or gastric sensations. To do so, we will record these bodily signals (e.g. heart rate, blood pressure) using non-invasive equipment involving electrodes placed on your fingers, abdomen, and just below your shoulder. To maximise your comfort, you will help us to attach the recording devices
Please ensure you do not wear any dresses/one-pieces/rompers/dungarees/turtlenecks or any other pieces of clothing which would prevent the placing of the electrode on your hip, abdomen or shoulders.
All together, this will take about 4 hours. There are several breaks scheduled, and you can take more breaks if you would like to. It is important that you know that you are able to withdraw your participation at any point - with no questions asked and no explanation needed. We will stop immediately and you can leave.
At the end of the testing session
At the end of the session you will be given information about how to claim your reimbursement (£). We can answer any remaining questions you have about the study and what you were asked to do during the testing session.
We will walk you back to the building reception.
You can find more detailed information in the Participant Information Sheet linked here.
If you sign up and are eligible to participate, you will also be emailed a copy of this information.
If you have any specific questions about what is involved you can contact a member of our research team via email who will be happy to answer any questions: icn.embody[at]ucl.ac.uk
