"Scientists call our ability to feel what's happening inside our bodies interoception. A portmanteau of 'interior' and 'reception,' it differs from perception, which comes from our five senses, and proprioception, which tells us how we are oriented in space. Interoception is an inner sense having to do with our bodily processes."
"Garfinkel monitored the heartbeats of twenty people who'd been diagnosed with autism, and also asked them to count the beats themselves. At first, many people who'd declared themselves 'good' at detecting their own heartbeats failed these tasks. But, as the tests went on, they improved. Some of the participants had reported having anxiety, and about a third of them said that, as they became better at detecting their heartbeats accurately, they also felt less anxious."
Interoception is the inner sense that allows people to perceive what happens inside their bodies, distinct from external perception and spatial awareness. This ability varies greatly between individuals—some people are highly attuned to their heartbeat and internal sensations, while others rarely notice them. Research by neuroscientist Sarah Garfinkel demonstrates that people can improve their interoceptive accuracy through practice and training. Notably, some autistic individuals who initially believed they were good at detecting their heartbeats actually performed poorly on objective tests, but improved with practice. Participants who enhanced their heartbeat detection accuracy reported reduced anxiety levels. This suggests interoception plays a significant role in emotional regulation and mental health.
Read at The New Yorker
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