Interoception in Autism: A Narrative Review of Behavioral and Neurobiological Data

Abstract

While exteroceptive sensory processing is a hallmark of autism spectrum disorder, how interoceptive processing may impact and contribute to symptomatology remains unclear. In this comprehensive narrative review on interoception in autism, we discuss: 1) difficulties with assessing interoception; 2) potential interoceptive differences; 3) interactions between neural systems for interoception, attention, sensorimotor processing, and cognition; and 4) potential differences in neural circuits involved in interoception. In general, there are mixed findings on potential interoception differences in autism. Nevertheless, some data indicate differences in integration of interoceptive and exteroceptive information may contribute to autism symptomatology. Neurologically, interoceptive processing in autism may be impacted by potential differences in the development, morphometry, and connectivity of key interoceptive hubs (vagal processing, brainstem, thalamus, insula), though much work is needed on this topic.