Inner Sense

An immersive journey into interoception—our ability to perceive and interpret sensations like hunger and thirst—that could transform our understanding of health forever.

What is interoception? Only one of the most important functions of our body—called the “sixth sense” by scientists—and yet many people move through life without even knowing it’s there. In Inner Sense, Caroline Williams delves into the fascinating field of interoception, speaking with doctors, scientists, and researchers about how our internal sensations influence our thoughts and actions—and how we can harness interoceptive awareness to improve health, relationships, and society as a whole.

Interoception allows our brains to perceive the internal state of our bodies, helping us pick up and respond to cues like hunger and thirst, or emotions like stress or fear. Interoception shapes how we move through the world, even when we’re not consciously aware of it. Many people, for example, only notice our body’s signals when they become overwhelming—like panic, pain, or rage. This disconnect between the brain’s predictions and the body’s sensations can lead to various mental and physical health challenges, from anxiety to eating disorders. Conversely, some people’s brains are so insensitive to internal cues that they struggle to feel empathy or recognize basic needs like hunger or fatigue.

Inner Sense investigates how improving interoceptive awareness can benefit mental and physical health. Caroline Williams explores cutting-edge interventions like mindfulness, biofeedback, targeted exercise, and even psychedelic therapy, which hold the potential to help us regulate emotions, reduce stress, and live better lives.

Caroline Williams is a highly regarded science journalist and podcaster and a regular contributor to the New Scientist and the Guardian. She is the author of Move, which was a New Scientist Book of the Year, and My Plastic Brain. She lives in the UK.