Adaptive and Maladaptive Bodily Awareness: Distinguishing Interoceptive Sensibility and Interoceptive Attention from Anxiety‐Induced Somatization in Autism and Alexithymia

• Published in: Autism research 2021-02, Vol.14 (2), p.240-247
• Main Authors: Trevisan, Dominic A., Mehling, Wolf E., McPartland, James C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alexithymia; Anxiety; Attention; Autism; autism spectrum disorder; bodily awareness; Emotions; Hunger; interoception; Nervous system; Neurosciences; somatization
• ISSN: 1939-3792; 1939-3806
• DOI: 10.1002/aur.2458

There is growing interest in “interoception” (i.e., detection and interpretation of internal body signals) as a relevant mechanism contributing to certain symptoms and features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and alexithymia. However, inconsistent measurement and operationalization of interoception has led to confusion and inconsistent findings in the literature. In this commentary, we present alternative interpretations of findings from existing studies to demonstrate that ASD and alexithymia are conditions associated with reduced adaptive forms of interoceptive attention (i.e., attention toward bodily signals) but heightened maladaptive forms of interoceptive attention related to anxiety‐induced somatization. Differentiating adaptive and maladaptive forms of interoceptive attention reveals a clearer pattern of findings in the research literature for further investigation of interoceptive processes that are involved in the neurobiology of ASD. However, interoception is a complex and multi‐faceted construct that requires continual refinement in conceptualization and operationalization. Interoception research may benefit from self‐report measures that clearly differentiate adaptive and maladaptive forms of bodily awareness. Lay Summary Some research suggests that autistic people have difficulty understanding bodily feelings such as hunger, illness, or emotions, whereas some studies have reported the opposite pattern of findings. We argue that this latter subset of studies reached false conclusions from using measures of bodily awareness that largely measure physical symptoms of anxiety. While attention to unpleasant bodily signals is an important ability necessary for maintaining healthy bodily functioning, excessive attention, and worry toward bodily signals can increase anxiety and be harmful.