Interoception: the sense that reads your own body

Interoception: the sense that reads your own body

Beyond the classic five senses lies interoception — your perception of your internal state, from heartbeat to hunger. Explore how it works and its surprising links to emotion, anxiety, and the way we make decisions.

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Show notes

Eighty percent of vagus nerve fibers send signals from the body to the brain, not the reverse.

Three-bladed propeller proteins called PIEZO translate physical pressure from organs into electrical brain signals.

The insula serves as the primary hub where the brain processes internal physiological data.

Reframing physical stress symptoms as preparation for a challenge can alter the body's hormonal response.

Anxiety disorders often cause the brain to interpret benign internal signals as immediate physical threats.

Current vagus nerve stimulation treatments lack precision by affecting multiple internal organs at the same time.

In this episode
  1. 01Intro1 min
  2. 02The Hidden Continent of Awareness2 min
  3. 03The Molecular Mechanics: PIEZO and the Vagus3 min
  4. 04The Braid of Emotion and Physiology3 min
  5. 05When the Signal Fails: Anxiety and Health3 min
  6. 06Outro1 min
Sources
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