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

Photo by Max on Unsplash

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.

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 heart beating 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…