The self’s choice: Priming attentional focus on bodily self promotes loss frequency bias

Abstract When attention is focused on self representation(s), the ability to evaluate one’s internal sensations enhanced, according previous research by Ainley and colleagues ( Consciousness Cognition, 22 (4), 1231–1238, 2013). Self-representations are usually distinguished between bodily narrative. Both narrative representations improve decision-making processes, in that consideration of alternatives informed experienced deep inside body (e.g., anxiety) as suggest literature (Noël, Brevers & Bechara Frontiers Psychiatry, 4 , 179, The objective present study analyze process multiple conditions stimulated self-representations. Participants played Iowa Gambling Task three times (a baseline without stimuli two randomly ordered stimulations prime self-representations). While no significant differences emerged regarding advantageous choices, participants showed loss frequency bias condition with bodily-self representation priming. Two interpretations proposed: focus acted a distractor diminishing participants’ commitment long term outcomes or enhanced interoception promoted aversion losses. Directions given for future clinical implications.