Heartbeat counting task performance in alcohol use disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Alcohol AlcoholSep 20, 2026
Clinical ResearchPsychiatry
Nicolás Guillermo González, Luisa Göde, Lucía Alba-Ferrara
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis examined heartbeat counting task (HCT) performance in adults with alcohol use disorder (AUD) compared to healthy controls (HC). The analysis included six studies with 314 individuals with AUD and 324 HC, revealing a moderate-to-large negative effect size of g = -0.79, indicating poorer HCT performance in the AUD group.
Key findings
- Pooled effect size for HCT performance in AUD vs HC was g = -0.79.
- All included studies reported negative effect sizes for HCT performance.
- The analysis included a total of 638 participants across six studies.
- The evidence base is small, which limits the certainty of the findings.
Why it matters
Understanding interoceptive processes in AUD may inform treatment approaches and enhance the understanding of the cognitive and behavioral aspects of the disorder. This could lead to improved interventions targeting these deficits.
What to keep in mind
The small evidence base limits the certainty of the findings.