Are interoceptive accuracy scores from the heartbeat counting task problematic? A comment on Zamariola et al. (2018).

ABSTRACT

In a recently published article, Zamariola et al. (2018) listed four problems of interoceptive accuracy (IAcc) scores as measured with Schandry's heartbeat counting task. In this comment, we clarify that IAcc scores are ratio variables, the analyses of which can result in misleading interpretations and incorrect conclusions. We examine the findings of Zamariola et al. (2018) by reanalyzing their data using statistical methods more adequate than the bivariate correlational analyses conducted by Zamariola et al. (2018) and by reinterpreting the results taking into account the fact that IAcc scores are ratio variables. Our findings indicate that the problems enlisted by Zamariola et al. (2018) can mainly be attributed to the statistical nature of IAcc scores and to the analysis approach of using bivariate correlations. We infer that the problems of IAcc scores mentioned by Zamariola et al. (2018) are not as serious as they might appear at first glance. In turn, we briefly mention some other problems of IAcc scores researchers may face based on the fact that ratio variables are bounded.