Interoceptive inference shapes emotional experiences

Health · Published 3 November 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: A review of 2016 research suggests that the brain's ability to predict internal states through interoceptive inference plays a key role in shaping emotional experiences and self-awareness. The study highlights how uncertainty and prediction influence neural processes related to emotion and mental health.

The paper reviews how the brain uses predictive models to regulate bodily states, linking this to emotional experiences and selfhood. It emphasizes the role of uncertainty in shaping neural responses and how this relates to conditions like autism and depression.

The study is a survey of existing research rather than a new experiment, so it does not provide direct evidence but synthesizes findings from multiple sources.

Why it matters: Understanding how the brain predicts internal states can provide new insights into emotional experiences and mental health.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The brain predicts internal body signals to create the experience of emotion
• Interoception is the silent sense that tells you how you feel inside right now.
• How your body’s internal signals dictate the way you think and feel
• The brain uses higher cognitive processes to regulate and manage our emotions
• Your brain constructs emotions rather than reacting to them
• Pandemics and social distancing measures are linked to mental health challenges in youth
• COVID-19 pandemic linked to millions of additional cases of depression and anxiety
• Physical activity shows small but consistent links to better mental health in youth
• Why focusing on what you cannot control increases your suffering
• The high-tech frontier of controlling cell behavior with light
• The Hidden Spectrum of Rare Mental Disorders
• Why stress is contagious and how to break the spiral

More in Mental health · More in Health · Latest · A–Z · All topics