Interoception in Autism: A Narrative Review of Behavioral and Neurobiological Data

While exteroceptive sensory processing is a hallmark of autism spectrum disorder, how interoceptive processing may impact and contribute to symptomatology remains unclear. In this comprehensive narrative review on interoception in autism, we discuss: 1) difficulties with assessing interoception; 2)...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology research and behavior management 2024-01, Vol.17, p.1841-1853
Main Authors: Loureiro, Fernanda, Ringold, Sofronia M, Aziz-Zadeh, Lisa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Autism
brainstem
insula
interoception
Neural circuitry
pain
Review
thalamus
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Summary:While exteroceptive sensory processing is a hallmark of autism spectrum disorder, how interoceptive processing may impact and contribute to symptomatology remains unclear. In this comprehensive narrative review on interoception in autism, we discuss: 1) difficulties with assessing interoception; 2) potential interoceptive differences; 3) interactions between neural systems for interoception, attention, sensorimotor processing, and cognition; and 4) potential differences in neural circuits involved in interoception. In general, there are mixed findings on potential interoception differences in autism. Nevertheless, some data indicate differences in integration of interoceptive and exteroceptive information may contribute to autism symptomatology. Neurologically, interoceptive processing in autism may be impacted by potential differences in the development, morphometry, and connectivity of key interoceptive hubs (vagal processing, brainstem, thalamus, insula), though much work is needed on this topic.
ISSN:1179-1578
1179-1578
DOI:10.2147/PRBM.S410605