Primary researchers: Greg Keenan, Jeff Brunstrom (PhD supervisor)

Collaborators: Ashley Martin, Marianna Blackburn

Interoceptive awareness relates to our ability to detect internally generated bodily signals involved in maintaining homeostasis (Craig, 2003). This encompasses physiological reflexes (e.g., pain and itch) and particular motivational states (e.g., hunger and fullness). In much the same way that individuals differ in their sensitivity to visual, auditory and olfactory signals, they also differ in their ability to detect interoceptive signals.

Using both established and novel techniques, we are currently exploring whether interoceptive awareness is associated with various eating behaviours. One major theme of our investigations is whether interoceptive awareness is related to external food-cue responsiveness.  For example, is someone who has poor interoceptive awareness more likely to rely on the sight or smell of food, rather than hunger, to initiate eating? Other themes include how interoceptive awareness might relate to learning about novel foods and whether interoception influences what is recalled about intake at an earlier meal when considering future appetite.