Interoception in anxiety and depression

Brain Struct Funct. 2010 Jun;214(5-6):451-63. doi: 10.1007/s00429-010-0258-9. Epub 2010 May 21.

Abstract

We review the literature on interoception as it relates to depression and anxiety, with a focus on belief, and alliesthesia. The connection between increased but noisy afferent interoceptive input, self-referential and belief-based states, and top-down modulation of poorly predictive signals is integrated into a neuroanatomical and processing model for depression and anxiety. The advantage of this conceptualization is the ability to specifically examine the interface between basic interoception, self-referential belief-based states, and enhanced top-down modulation to attenuate poor predictability. We conclude that depression and anxiety are not simply interoceptive disorders but are altered interoceptive states as a consequence of noisily amplified self-referential interoceptive predictive belief states.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anxiety Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Awareness / physiology*
  • Body Image*
  • Cerebral Cortex / physiology*
  • Depressive Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Models, Neurological
  • Self Concept
  • Visceral Afferents / physiology*