Interoception and learning: Import to understanding and treating diseases and psychopathologies

Rick A. Bevins, Joyce Besheer

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Chemotherapeutic agents nauseate cancer patients. Some individuals with schizophrenia hear voices. Chronic pain can be reduced by analgesics. Nausea, voices, and pain are examples of internal (interoceptive) stimuli closely linked with a disease and/or its treatment. There is evidence that the perception and, hence, role of these internal stimuli can be modified by one"s learning history. There is also increased awareness by researchers and practitioners of the potential import of learning involving internal states to some diseases and psychopathologies. Unfortunately, the science, theory, and practice appear to be trailing behind awareness. In this mini-review, we describe two examples: smoking and panic disorder. While doing so, we discuss the need to develop translationally relevant animal models that will allow investigators to better understand the behavioral and neural mechanisms underlying interoception and learning.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)624-631
Number of pages8
JournalACS Chemical Neuroscience
Volume5
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 20 2014

Keywords

  • Interoceptive conditioning
  • drug abuse
  • neuropathologies
  • nicotine
  • panic-disorder
  • psychopathologies
  • smoking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology

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