Sensory Processing and Interoception Research

Impaired breathing-related interoceptive abilities have been associated with adverse outcomes, including higher levels of anxiety. However, brain connectivity patterns related to poor interoception, and how these may be modulated by anxiety, are poorly understood. This exploratory study investigated connectivity profiles associated with breathing-related interoceptive abilities in 65 volunteers who underwent ultrahigh-field (7 Tesla) "resting-state" magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), as well as completed a breathing-related interoceptive task and an anxiety questionnaire. 

Interoception, the sensing, awareness, and regulation of physiological states, is crucial for wellbeing and mental health. Behavioural interventions targeting interoception exist, but randomised controlled trials (RCTs) testing efficacy remain limited. The present, preregistered (ISRCTN16762367) RCT tested the novel Interoceptive iNsight and Metacognitive Efficacy beliefs (InMe) intervention. InMe uses slow breathing and cardiac biofeedback during stress to train interoceptive self-efficacy beliefs and improve self-reported interoception.

​Sensory integration theory (SIT), which posits that the neurological process of integrating sensory information from the environment and one’s body influences learning and behaviour, and the sensory processing measure (SPM), a psychometric tool with versions for individuals aged 4 months to 87 years, are fundamental to understanding and assessing sensory processing. This study examined the existing evidence on the SPM and SIT using scientometric and narrative methods.

Children with developmental disorders often benefit from interventions supporting participation, including sensory interventions, which should be grounded and informed by evidence. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate and summarize current evidence on the effectiveness of sensory-based interventions (SBIs) on functional outcomes to guide interventions.

​Mental fatigue (MF) induced by prolonged cognitive tasks poses significant risks to postural stability, yet its effects on multi-sensory integration remain poorly understood.

This study investigates the efficacy of sensory integration training (SIT) in enhancing balance and executive functions in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with the aim of highlighting its potential for organizing and processing sensory information in the brain.

Mental health conditions like depression are associated with an elevated risk of cardiometabolic disorders, yet the mechanisms underlying this comorbidity remain poorly understood. Is metabolic dysfunction a cause of depression, a downstream consequence, or do both stem from shared underlying processes? 

​Interoception plays an important role in homeostatic regulation of energy intake and metabolism. Major interoceptive pathways include gut-to-brain and adipose tissue-to brain signaling via vagal sensory nerves and hormones, such as leptin. However, signaling via spinal sensory neurons is rapidly emerging as an additional important signaling pathway. Here we provide an in-depth review of the known anatomy and functions of spinal sensory pathways and discuss potential mechanisms relevant for energy balance homeostasis in health and disease.

This review investigated the extant literature regarding the relationship between eating disorder diagnoses and sensory processing as measured by validated and reliable self-report inventories. Increasing evidence highlights the role of sensory processing in cognitive functions. Sensory processing is implicated in mental-ill health, including eating disorders (ED) and body image disturbances. However, the pathophysiological underpinnings of sensory processing, encompassing exteroception and interoception, in relation to ED remain underexplored.