Interoception, the eight sense, is an internal sensory system. It is the process by which the brain receives and interprets signals from the internal organs. It provides information about the body’s physiological state.  The signals include basic bodily needs, physiological responses, and emotional sensations. Basic bodily needs are feelings of hunger, thirst, and the need to use the bathroom. Physiological needs are bodily movement such as heart rate, breathing, muscle tension and body temperature. Emotional sensations are feelings of anxiety, excitement, or discomfort.

The nervous system detects and transmits signals from the internal organs to the brain. This is often through the vagus nerve. Most of the internal signal processing is involuntary and subconsciously. However, once these signals reach a certain threshold, it becomes the conscious awareness and the person can notice sensations of racing heart or thirst.

Once these sensations are detected, the brain integrates these signals, evaluates their importance and starts to triage their importance with an appropriate response i.e. sweat and drink water in response to overheating. These responses are executed to maintain optimal functioning for the body.

Interoception provides the brain with the body’s current emotional state, influencing self-regulation and decision making. For the neurotypical, this process is straightforward. For the neurodiverse, they may have heightened or diminished interoceptive awareness to be able to notice difference in ability to recognise internal sensations and respond to bodily needs appropriately. This will affect their ability to regulate their emotions and daily functioning.

Neurodiverse people commonly experience differences in interoception. They often present in various ways that includes reduced accuracy in noticing body signals, heightened sensitivity to internal sensations, or difficulty distinguishing between bodily cues. Research shows that autistic individuals’ interoceptive awareness is low. However, their bodily sensitivity is high. Thus, the difference can impact their emotional awareness, regulation, and daily functioning. (1)

Several strategies can effectively enhance interoceptive awareness. Mindfulness and meditation practices encourage focused attention on bodily sensations, helping individuals become more attuned to their internal states. Techniques such as body scanning—mentally observing each part of the body to notice muscle tension or relaxation—foster greater connection with physical sensations. Integrating awareness of bodily feelings with emotional experiences supports improved emotional regulation by helping individuals interpret and respond adaptively to their internal cues. These approaches promote greater self-understanding and can enhance overall well-being through better recognition and management of bodily and emotional states.

Reference:

1. Williams, Z. J., Suzman, E., Bordman, S. L., Markfeld, J. E., Kaiser, S. M., Dunham, K. A., Zoltowski, A. R., Failla, M. D., Cascio, C. J., & Woynaroski, T. G. (2022). Characterizing interoceptive differences in autism: A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53(3), 947–962.