Bidirectional brain-body interactions during natural story listening

• Published in: Cell reports (Cambridge) Vol. 43; no. 4; p. 114081
• Main Authors: Madsen, Jens, Parra, Lucas C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 23.04.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Acoustic Stimulation; Adult; Arousal - physiology; attention; auditory narratives; Auditory Perception - physiology; Autonomic Nervous System - physiology; Brain - physiology; brain-body interaction; Cognition - physiology; CP: Neuroscience; Female; gaze position; gaze variation; heart rate; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; inter-subject correlation; Male; Pupil - physiology; pupil size; Saccades - physiology; speech tracking; Young Adult; heart rate; brain-body interaction; CP: Neuroscience; inter-subject correlation; gaze variation; attention; gaze position; speech tracking; auditory narratives; pupil size
• ISSN: 2211-1247; 2211-1247
• DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114081

Narratives can synchronize neural and physiological signals between individuals, but the relationship between these signals, and the underlying mechanism, is unclear. We hypothesized a top-down effect of cognition on arousal and predicted that auditory narratives will drive not only brain signals but also peripheral physiological signals. We find that auditory narratives entrained gaze variation, saccade initiation, pupil size, and heart rate. This is consistent with a top-down effect of cognition on autonomic function. We also hypothesized a bottom-up effect, whereby autonomic physiology affects arousal. Controlled breathing affected pupil size, and heart rate was entrained by controlled saccades. Additionally, fluctuations in heart rate preceded fluctuations of pupil size and brain signals. Gaze variation, pupil size, and heart rate were all associated with anterior-central brain signals. Together, these results suggest bidirectional causal effects between peripheral autonomic function and central brain circuits involved in the control of arousal. [Display omitted] •Listening to narratives modulates eye movements•Heart rate fluctuations precede pupil size fluctuations and anterior-central neural activity•Breathing modulates pupil size, suggesting causal effect on central arousal•Rhythmic saccades can entrain heart beats When we listen to a story, our body is integrally involved in the experience. Madsen and Parra provide evidence for a bidirectional link between body and brain by analyzing electroencephalography, pupil size, heart rate, and eye movements while subjects listen to narratives and during controlled interventions that modulate autonomic signals.