Interoception: the little known hidden sixth sense

When we think of our senses, the main ones that come to mind are sight, touch, smell, taste, and hearing. All of these senses reflect the body’s ability to respond to external stimuli. But what about responding to what’s happening inside our bodies? That’s where interoception comes in. Interoception is one of several “new” senses that are now at the forefront of scientific and medical research. Interoception is a particularly hot topic because we’re starting to understand just how much it impacts our well-being. If you don’t recognize the physical signals the body gives off when you’re experiencing anxiety, then how can you take steps to calm it? Click through this gallery to learn about interoception, and how it can be used to improve mental health.

What is interoception?

Interoception is the awareness of the signals that your internal organs send to your brain. This includes the heart, the lungs, the gut, and the bladder. It’s the ability to recognize the sensations coming from inside your body.

The heartbeat

For example, if you sit quietly and close your eyes, you can feel your own heartbeat. In fact, you might be able to hear it like the sound is coming from inside your ears rather than outside.

Interoception and emotions

Another example is the clenching of the stomach muscles or any other kind of tension in the body. This awareness of interoception is particularly important when it comes to our emotions and state of well-being.

Body before mind

According to modern scientists, we only become aware of our emotional state once we notice the change in our physical state through interoception. Fear, happiness, sadness, and excitement all give off physical signals within the body. Interoception is deeply linked to intuition. 

Individual awareness

Each person has a different level of awareness of their interoceptive signals. A group of people could be asked to count their heartbeats over a minute without taking their pulse and then compare it to the real reading. There is likely to be a wide variation in how accurately they were able to count their heartbeats.

Impact on well-being

The awareness level of our interoceptive signals is directly linked to our ability to regulate our emotions. If you notice when your heart rate increases, your muscles are tense, and your breathing is shallow, you’re able to recognize that you’re upset or anxious.

Interoception and mental health

If you are unaware and unfamiliar with your body’s signals, then you’re less likely to be able to regulate your emotions. This is why interoception is deeply linked with mental health and well-being.

Anxiety and hyper-awareness

Those who suffer from anxiety are more likely to be in touch with their interoceptive signals, but may interpret them poorly. Physical symptoms of anxiety include increased heart rate, tightness in the chest, shallow breathing, increased body temperature, and many more.

Modern fear stimuli

Nowadays, a 'threat' might be a job interview or a social situation that makes us nervous, rather than a hungry tiger! Our bodies don’t know that, but we do. Regardless, some people with anxiety start to panic more when they notice the interoceptive signals that they’re experiencing stress.

Intuition and detachment

Studies suggest that our interoception is linked to our deep sense of intuition. Our bodies respond before we’re even consciously aware of what’s happening. Those who have a poor sense of interoception may feel detached, which can be a sign of more serious mental illness.

Sense of self

Interoception helps us to form our most basic sense of self. Patients suffering from psychosis often seem to experience a sort of depersonalization that disconnects them from this sense.

Emotional regulation

Greater awareness of your interoceptive signals can help you to recognize your emotional state, decatastrophize, and formulate a helpful response to the situation that reduces your stress levels.

Research with addiction

Her initial work has been with patients suffering from substance abuse issues. They often struggle to regulate their emotions and feel disconnected from themselves, which exacerbates their addiction.

Beneficial for all

However, interoceptive mindfulness isn’t just helpful for those suffering from serious conditions. Professor Price believes this practice can be beneficial to anyone wishing to reduce stress and bring more awareness into their lives.

Interoception and racial bias

If your body believes you are in danger and begins sending interoceptive signals of fear, you are more likely to see a threat in front of you, even if it’s not there. This has been shown in the case of racial biases.

Fear and misjudgment

A study conducted in a lab showed that this racial bias is deeply ingrained in some people. The White participants showed an increased heart rate and were more likely to misidentify a harmless object as a weapon when it was followed by an image of a Black person.

We see what we believe

The conclusion of the study was that the heart rate can actually enhance a person’s perception of the fear-inducing stimuli.