ABSTRACT
The idea that “when the body speaks” an interaction with the mind takes place is a beautiful picture to visualize that the body has an outstanding role for us. The body connects the soul and the mind, speaking in terms used in the poetic lyrics of the famous pop band Depeche Mode. And even more, when the body speaks, information from the outside is getting less important or even “hollow,” suggesting that there is a hierarchy between these different entities of a person. In my opinion, it is a perfect metaphor to start into this chapter on interoception. Leaving pop art and turning to the scientific word, the following section will introduce what interoception is and how it can be measured. Its neural substrates will be discussed afterwards. Then its importance for emotion and the regulation of emotions will be presented, before bodily processes and their perception will be linked to the concepts of embodiment beyond the field of emotions, focusing on self-regulation and certain aspects of cognition.
