The Role of Core Awareness in Emotional Appraisal in Dance Performance / Andrea Gallina (2024)

The intersection of bodily awareness and emotional regulation has recently gained attention across various fields, including psychology, somatic studies, and the performing arts. This relationship offers a rich ground for understanding how physical sensations, particularly those from the body’s core, influence emotional appraisal and regulation. Bodily awareness, specifically core awareness, plays a crucial role in shaping emotional experiences, with important implications for theoretical research and practical application. One key aspect of this relationship is interoceptive awareness, which refers to the ability to perceive, interpret, and respond to internal bodily signals such as heart rate, respiration, hunger, and visceral sensations (Price, 2018). Interoception is vital for maintaining homeostasis, the body’s ability to sustain internal stability despite external environmental changes (Billman, 2020). By recognising and interpreting these internal signals, individuals can regulate their emotions more effectively, making interoception a central component of emotional self-regulation, decision-making, and mental health (Craig, 2003). Internal signals, processed by neural systems like the brain-gut and brainheart connections, inform physical and emotional responses, highlighting the profound interrelationship between body and mind (Critchley, Neural systems supporting interoceptive awareness, 2004). For example, the vagus nerve plays a crucial role in this communication, influencing heart rate, breathing, and digestion—bodily functions closely tied to emotional states (Mayer, 2011). Core awareness is a specific form of bodily awareness that involves the conscious recognition and engagement of muscles in the body’s central region, including the abdominals, lower back, pelvis, and hips (Hibbs, 2008). This awareness should be distinguished from core strength, which refers to the physical capacity of these muscles to provide stability and support during movement. While core strength is crucial for physical performance and injury prevention, core awareness focuses on the individual’s ability to perceive and consciously engage these muscles, allowing for more precise control and coordination during physical activities (Stanton, 2004). The relationship 3 between core awareness and core strength is complementary; improving core strength can enhance an individual’s ability to maintain core awareness, particularly during tasks that require balance, postural control, and movement efficiency (Stanton, 2004). Core awareness has deeper implications for emotional regulation. The core muscles are involved in fundamental bodily functions such as breathing and internal organ stability, which are directly linked to emotional states. Changes in core engagement, such as abdominal tension or altered breathing patterns, can affect how individuals perceive and interpret emotional experiences, demonstrating how physical sensations are integral to emotional regulation. The concept of embodied affectivity further underscores the connection between bodily sensations and emotions. Embodied affectivity refers to the idea that emotions are not merely mental states but are shaped and expressed through the body’s sensations and movements (Fuchs T. &., 2014). Physical states, particularly core awareness-related, can significantly impact emotional experiences and decision-making processes (Füstös, 2012). For example, this connection is especially evident in the performing arts, as dancers rely on their physical movements and body positioning to convey and interpret emotional states. Kinesthetic awareness, which refers to the sense of movement and bodily position, is a critical component of embodied affectivity in dance and movement practices. It is not a passive perception but an active process that shapes our interactions with the world (Merleau-Ponty, 1962). It involves understanding where the body is in space and how it moves, making it essential for performing arts and other activities that require precision in bodily movement. Kinesthesia also affects emotional regulation, as bodily movements and postures can evoke or modulate emotional responses. The link between bodily awareness and emotional regulation is further explored through somatic practices, such as yoga, Pilates, and the Alexander Technique, which emphasise enhancing somatic awareness through mindful movement and attention to bodily sensations (Fox, 2012). These practices encourage individuals to tune into their internal bodily signals—such as breathing patterns, muscle tension, or heart rate—to improve emotional well-being and manage 4 stress. By fostering a deeper connection between the body and emotions, somatic practices offer valuable tools for developing emotional resilience and regulation strategies. This study aims to investigate the influence of core awareness on emotional embodiment. Participants will undergo a six-week core training program designed to enhance abdominal breathing and thoracoabdominal functionality, which is critical for engaging the core muscles and improving somatosensory activation across various bodily systems, including the musculoskeletal, neural, and visceral systems. The experiment will assess core endurance, strength, and emotional regulation changes through self-reported bodily awareness and emotional reappraisal measures. It study builds on the understanding that bodily functions—such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion—are regulated by neural systems, like the vagus nerve and the phrenic nerve, which connect the brain to important organs in the body. For example, the vagus nerve plays a vital role in neurovisceral integration, a process where the brain regulates bodily functions that affect emotional and cognitive processes (Critchley, 2004). These neural pathways illustrate how bodily sensations, like a racing heart or butterflies in the stomach, can be interpreted differently based on emotional context, demonstrating the interconnectedness between bodily awareness and emotional states. This research aims to bridge the gap between physical conditioning and emotional embodiment by examining the role of core awareness and interoception in emotional regulation. The insights gained from this study could inform new training practices that integrate core awareness and emotional regulation, particularly in high-performance settings like sports and the performing arts. This multidisciplinary approach may offer more holistic strategies for enhancing both physical performance and emotional resilience, contributing to overall well-being.