Do expectations shape interoceptive perceptions across body domains? A sham EMF study to test the predictive processing theory.

Natalie Schmitz, Carolin Wolters, Antonia Rahrbach, Friederike Kälke, Michael Witthöft, Alexander L Gerlach, Anna Pohl

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHP. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Natalie SchmitzUniversity of Cologne, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Pohligstr. 1, 50969 Cologne, Germany.

Carolin WoltersUniversity of Cologne, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Pohligstr. 1, 50969 Cologne, Germany.

Antonia RahrbachUniversity of Cologne, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Pohligstr. 1, 50969 Cologne, Germany.

Friederike KälkeUniversity of Cologne, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Pohligstr. 1, 50969 Cologne, Germany.

Michael WitthöftJohannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Institute of Clinical Psychology, Psychotherapy, and Experimental Psychopathology, Wallstr. 1, 55122 Mainz, Germany.

Alexander L GerlachUniversity of Cologne, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Pohligstr. 1, 50969 Cologne, Germany.

Anna PohlUniversity of Cologne, Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Pohligstr. 1, 50969 Cologne, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: According to the principles of predictive processing theory, persistent symptom perception is largely determined by central nervous predictions on somatosensory input. Here, we examine how threat-related expectations shape predictions and interoceptive perceptions across body domains using sham EMF (electromagnetic field) exposure. Methods: Participants ( Results: Participants in the sham EMF group reported significantly higher levels of state anxiety ( Conclusions: A liberal approach was associated with elevated symptom experience across bodily domains and might be considered a transdiagnostic psychopathological risk factor. As research is still scarce, replication studies with valid context manipulations are essential.

Indexed as

Cardiovascular signal detection taskInteroceptionPredictive processingResponse biasSomatic signal detection taskSomatic symptom burden

Identifiers

PMID40727578

DOI10.1016/j.ijchp.2025.100609

PMCPMC12301728

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.