All articles tagged with #interoception
Researchers show that aging gut microbiota produce higher levels of medium-chain fatty acids, triggering peripheral inflammation via GPR84 and weakening vagal gut–brain signaling. This interoceptive dysfunction impairs hippocampal memory in aged mice, with promising interventions—phage targeting of Parabacteroides, GPR84 inhibitors, or boosting vagal activity—able to restore memory.
A month-long study with 90 healthy adults using continuous glucose monitors and smartphone mood checks found that mood worsens primarily when people perceive hunger, not simply when blood sugar drops. Those with higher interoceptive accuracy—better awareness of internal bodily states—showed fewer mood swings. Hunger signals involve the hypothalamus and insula, and improving interoception through attention to body cues and exercise may help stabilize moods and prevent impulsive eating. The piece, republished from The Conversation, also notes the everyday relevance for parents managing kids' meals.
New research and expert discourse suggest that human perception rests on 22–33 senses, far beyond the classic five. Proprioception, interoception, vestibular balance, sense of agency, and sense of ownership are part of a distributed, multisensory system that blends touch, taste, smell, and sight to create flavor, texture, and self-awareness. Everyday experiences—such as odors altering taste or sounds changing perceived texture—reflect this interconnectedness. Work at the Centre for the Study of the Senses and Crossmodal Laboratory in Oxford, alongside exhibitions like Senses Unwrapped, illustrate how our senses continually negotiate a single, coherent reality.
Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute and the Allen Institute, backed by the NIH, are mapping the brain's internal communication network called interoception, which monitors vital bodily functions. This project aims to create the first neural atlas of this 'sixth sense,' potentially transforming our understanding of health and disease by revealing how the brain and internal organs stay in sync, and offering new avenues for treatment of various conditions.
Scientists from Scripps Research and the Allen Institute, led by Nobel laureate Ardem Patapoutian, received $14.2 million from the NIH to create the first comprehensive map of interoception, the body's internal sensory system, aiming to better understand how the brain monitors internal signals and its implications for health and disease.
Scientists at Scripps Research and the Allen Institute received a $14.2 million award to create the first detailed map of interoception, the internal sense that monitors the body's physiological signals, which could lead to new insights into health and disease.,
Scientists from Scripps Research and the Allen Institute, supported by a $14.2 million NIH grant, are launching a project to map the body's 'hidden sixth sense'—interoception—by creating a comprehensive atlas of the neural pathways that monitor internal organs, aiming to advance understanding of health and disease.
A study finds that stronger synchronization between the stomach's electrical rhythms and brain activity is linked to poorer mental health, including anxiety and depression, highlighting a potential target for new psychological interventions.
A meta-analysis reveals that childhood emotional abuse and neglect are linked to reduced trust in one's bodily signals, which may impair emotional regulation and increase the risk of mental health disorders, highlighting the need for greater awareness and intervention for emotional maltreatment.
A study found that the connection between vagus nerve signals and food intake is stronger in higher socio-economic groups, suggesting that internal physiological cues influence eating behavior more in these populations, potentially contributing to health disparities.
A study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology reveals how alcohol alters internal bodily sensations, with less sensation linked to higher risk of alcohol use disorder. Using digital mapping and physiological measures, researchers found that alcohol-induced bodily sensations vary during intoxication and are connected to subjective feelings of stimulation and sedation, potentially influencing addiction vulnerability. The study also highlights placebo effects and individual differences in bodily awareness, offering new insights into the role of interoception in alcohol experiences and addiction risk.
A study by the University of Essex reveals that women with higher interoception, or awareness of internal bodily signals, experience more frequent and satisfying orgasms. This inward focus enhances sexual satisfaction in both solo and partnered encounters, emphasizing the importance of understanding normal orgasmic processes for improving well-being and relationship satisfaction. The research highlights the role of bodily awareness in fostering sexual satisfaction, offering insights for women and their partners.
Interoception, the sense of our body's internal state, plays a vital role in regulating essential bodily functions and contributes to mental health. Research suggests that men and women differ in their ability to sense and interpret interoceptive signals, with women being less accurate at heart-focused tasks. Understanding these differences may help explain why certain mental health conditions are more prevalent in women and could lead to improved treatments tailored to individual differences in interoception.
The 'hangry' phenomenon, where hunger leads to irritability and anger, is influenced by the interplay between internal body signals and external stimuli, individual differences in interoceptive awareness, and hormonal factors like ghrelin. Understanding these factors can help manage and prevent the hangry state by taking proactive steps such as eating regular, balanced meals, being mindful of one's emotional and physical state, and creating positive environments to mitigate negative responses to hunger.
The relationship between consciousness and interoception (the sense of the body from within) is gaining attention in the field of psychedelic science. Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio argues that feelings and homeostatic sensations are the source of consciousness, and interoception plays a crucial role in this process. Psychedelics may offer a unique window into the intricate dance between interoception and consciousness, potentially leading to novel therapeutic benefits. Studies have shown that psychedelics can improve symptoms across a range of mental illnesses and even physical ailments, suggesting a connection between the brain and body. Further research is needed to explore the link between interoception and psychedelics, but the somatic effects of psychedelic therapy and the reported sense of self-connection indicate the importance of embodied aspects in the therapeutic process.