Interoception is the Ability to Sense Your Body's Signals

There is a constant dialogue between our brains and bodies, and we're only partly aware of the conversation

Hiya!

My body has always been loud and active. Beneath my skin is a constant conversation I often feel like an outsider to. My organs and cells speak in a language I’m just beginning to understand. It’s challenging for me to describe, but my body sometimes leads me as though it has a mind of its own.

Maybe it’s a form of intuition. Perhaps it’s high body awareness, but in its own way, my body speaks — and so does yours. Experts call it interoception, and it’s one of our senses, but it also has a mysterious link with our subconscious.

What is Interoception?

Lemme just point out that the term is interoception, not interception; that little “o” makes a big difference. Interception is you tossing a ball to me, and someone else snatching it mid-flight. Meanwhile, interoception is when you sense your body’s internal signals. For instance, without touching your pulse, can you feel or sense your heartbeat within your body?

Interoception (derived from the words “interior” and “reception”) is different from proprioception, which tells us how our bodies are oriented in space. It also differs from perception, which generally includes our five primary senses.

We rarely pay attention to our body’s signals or sensations unless it makes its needs known by alerting our conscious mind — like signaling when we’re hungry and thirsty, need to sleep, or use the toilet. But that’s just the fundamental level and function of interoception. There are two other ways interception presents.

The second interoception style goes on without our awareness. Our brains constantly monitor our internal body signals to ensure everything functions correctly, like releasing hormones to trigger your metabolism when your brain registers high glucose levels in your liver. In other words, interoception monitors homeostasis and alerts us when things are out of balance.

Even if you didn’t know the term, you’re probably well aware of these two ways our bodies and brains communicate. However, I believe many people are less aware of the third form of interoception.

The notion of “going with your gut” refers to the third category of interoception — my personal favorite. This version relates to how our minds and bodies work together to make sense of and respond to external events we experience. You can sense it anytime you take a moment to focus on it. Simply take a second to gauge how you feel — are you calm? Excited? Cranky? Tired and worn out? However you feel, your mood is a combination of how your mind combined with your muscles, organs, nerves, and the rest of your internal body feel about this moment.

Implications of Interoception