The Significance of Interoception

Recently, scientists have discovered the awesome significance of how our internal anatomy communicates with itself. Interoception is defined as a deeper understanding of how we sense and use signals from inside our bodies. These internal signals might even give the scientific community a better understanding about what drives human consciousness.

A heartbeat-evoked response is a great example of interoception. Abbreviated as (HER), internal signals from the heart to the brain prompts a neural reaction that can actually influence what is experienced in the external world, scientists say. Tests have proven that HER has the capacity to impact our eyesight, memory, intuitions, decision making, and emotions. However, the wiring structure that describes how these signals of information are transported inside of our bodies is still largely misunderstood.

Although an understanding of interoception has helped alleviate mental disorders, including anxiety in certain individuals, some scientists believe that interoception serves an important role in human consciousness. Through experimental testing with both human and non-human subjects, these scientists champion the idea that self-awareness and consciousness rely heavily on internal body signals. Despite the vast ambiguity that surrounds consciousness, perhaps interoception provides some useful insight.