Neurophysiological dynamics of visceral signals in emotion, self and bodily consciousness.
Proceedings. Biological sciences June 1, 2025 Célia F Camara, Maria Laura Filippetti, Alejandra Sel 3 citations
Bodily organs like the heart and lungs continuously interact with the brain to maintain physiological balance, and recent research shows that signals from these organs also influence high-level brain functions. These signals modulate electrophysiological dynamics, affecting how emotional and self-related information is processed, which shapes conscious experience. This review synthesizes electrophysiological evidence on interoception—the sensing of internal body states—focusing on cardiac, respiratory, and gastric signals. It shows that altered neurophysiological responses to interoception may underlie deficits in psychopathology. Limited evidence on the development of interoceptive electrophysiology in infancy and adolescence is summarized, along with attempts to investigate causal neural mechanisms. Important areas for further research are highlighted.