Body Sensations: The Conscious Aspects of Interoception

Interoception is the sense of the internal state of the body. It is the process of receiving, accessing, and evaluating internal bodily signals, which can be conscious and non-conscious. It is critical for maintaining homeostatic conditions in the body. Interoception is presented in relation to well-being, since it is assumed to be intimately linked to self-regulation. It is developed to assist organisms in maintaining homeostasis. Emotionally balanced body signals play a role in larger mood states, which supports emotional balance in modern lifecycle. The level to which a person is sensitive towards the interoceptive signals, affects the decision making capability of that person. Although, high sensitivity comes at a cost, increased interoceptive sensation can contribute to feelings of anxiety. Therefore, interoceptive sensitivity can either contribute to or detract from happiness, which implies the need for direction in modulating significant visceral signals. This book aims to shed light on some of the unexplored conscious aspects of interoception. Those in search of information to further their knowledge will be greatly assisted by it.