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Interoception

Meaning

The sensory process and conscious perception of signals originating from within the body, providing a continuous awareness of the internal physiological state, including visceral sensations, hormonal shifts, and autonomic nervous system activity. This “sixth sense” allows an individual to perceive internal cues such as hunger, heart rate, temperature, and emotional states, which are deeply intertwined with endocrine balance. Clinically, impaired interoception can contribute to dysregulation in appetite control, emotional processing, and the perception of hormonal symptoms.