Section 1.1: Sensory Systems Overview

Let’s take a moment to revisit the sensory system. Have you thought about how your brain interprets both your external environment and the sensations occurring within your body?

You're likely familiar with the five senses: touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing. However, did you know that two additional senses have long been recognized? They are proprioception, which helps you feel the position of your body, and vestibular sense, which relates to your awareness of your head's position in space. More recently, interoception has emerged as a third sense.

So, what exactly is interoception? According to Wikipedia, it is the sense of your body's internal state, encompassing both conscious and unconscious processes. It involves the brain's ability to integrate signals from the body to create a detailed understanding of its physiological condition. This sense is crucial for maintaining homeostasis and enhancing self-awareness.

Interoception allows you to recognize automatic bodily processes—like heartbeat or feelings of hunger—that typically go unnoticed. Awareness of these sensations can lead to behaviors that influence your well-being. Since your brain evolved alongside your body to ensure survival, it is designed to sense internal conditions and prompt necessary actions.

Section 1.2: The Importance of Self-Awareness

On a personal level, I find interoception to be essential for fostering self-awareness and understanding how our bodies feel. This awareness can guide us toward appropriate actions. For instance, recognizing nervousness can motivate you to practice deep breathing or mindfulness.

To cultivate an understanding of your internal state, consider these practices:

• Journaling
• Yoga
• Deep breathing exercises
• Simply asking yourself how you feel

I find ongoing research in this area fascinating. One study explored how heart rate perception influenced emotional responses to images and even intuitive decision-making.

But what if you struggle to accurately perceive your internal sensations? Unfortunately, many individuals—especially those with autism, ADHD, trauma-related disorders, anxiety, depression, and sensory processing challenges—may encounter difficulties with interoception. Some may even become overly sensitive to bodily sensations, leading to maladaptive behaviors, such as overeating to avoid hunger pangs.

Mindfulness serves as a potential remedy. By regularly checking in with your body and asking how you feel, you can enhance your interoceptive abilities and learn how to manage your sensations more effectively.

For example:

• Hunger: When you sense hunger, where do you feel it? Is the sensation pleasant or unpleasant?
• Nervousness: What physical changes occur in your body when you feel anxious? How do your skin, heart rate, or breathing respond?

Taking time to develop your awareness of these internal signals will lead to greater insight into your interoception. This, in turn, can empower you to make informed choices for your well-being.