Hidden Sixth Sense: A $14.2 Million NIH Grant Sets Out to Map Interoception—the Body's Inner Language
A team of researchers from the Scripps Research Institute and the Allen Institute has won a $14.2 million grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health to study interoception—the body's internal sense. Interoception is the brain’s ongoing surveillance of the body's internal state, signaling hunger, thirst, fatigue, and even the urge to use the bathroom. The grant aims to fund the creation of the first atlas of the body's internal sensory system, offering a deeper understanding of how the brain and body communicate.
In This Article:
Interoception: The Body's Hidden Sense
Interoception is the process by which we perceive the internal state of our bodies. It operates in the background, constantly monitoring physiological signals and relaying them to the brain to keep the body functioning properly. Through interoception, we feel hunger, thirst, fatigue, and the urge to void. This system also influences heart rate, digestion, and immune responses, guiding behavior and bodily regulation.
The Challenge of Mapping the Body's Internal Nervous System
Despite its importance, interoception has long been overlooked. The study of this sense is difficult because signals are broad and overlapping, making it hard to isolate individual components. The nerve cells involved cover large areas of the body and often lack clearly defined anatomical boundaries, complicating mapping efforts.
A Nobel‑Led Initiative to Build the First 3D Atlas
A Nobel prize–winning team has set out to build the first three-dimensional map of interoceptive connections. Led by Ardem Patapoutian, the atlas will comprise an anatomical and molecular catalog of the neural pathways linking internal organs with the central nervous system.
What This Could Mean for Health
Researchers say the results could reshape our understanding of organ–nervous system interactions and spark new treatments. Li Ye notes that the project will enable scientists to ask fresh questions about how organs communicate with the nervous system, opening the door to innovative therapies. Xin Jin also stressed the significance of pursuing this direction in neuroscience.
