Chao Sun

Hunyuan zhuang improves interoception: evidence from an expert-novice study and a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Scientific reports March 3, 2026 Wenbo Li, Tianxing Liu, Chao Sun

Hunyuan Zhuang, a Chinese practice combining posture, breathing, and mental focus, improves the ability to sense internal body signals. In a cross-sectional study, experts outperformed novices in interoceptive accuracy and sensitivity, and both groups showed acute gains during Hunyuan Zhuang compared to control postures. A randomized controlled trial found that eight weeks of training significantly improved these abilities, while a control group did not change. The findings support Hunyuan Zhuang as a non-pharmacological intervention for interoceptive dysfunction, bridging traditional practices with modern neuroscience.