INTEROCEPTION

Over time, we have all developed language around interoception, without really understanding exactly what ‘interoception’ is. Examples include our trusting our ‘gut feeling’ or intuition. Throughout our childhoods, we are consistently taught to ignore the signals that our bodies bring to our attention. We must eat, drink, and use the bathroom when it is convenient for others. Yet, the signals that our bodies give us provide important insights for our lives. Hence, suppressing and ignoring them leaves us with less, not more, control over what we do. 

Interoception is a tool that can be used to improve our decision-making skills, emotion regulation, empathy, and understanding of social situations. 

We aim to take this research to the next level, and run field trials within organisations, to build interoception-strengthening strategies and explore the impact on well-being, judgement and decision-making. We are interested in conversations with CEOs who want to improve performance and wellbeing in their organisation and with researchers who would like to collaborate on research into how interoception can be used within the workplace. 

(4) Kandasamy, N., Garfinkel, S., Page, L. et al. Interoceptive Ability Predicts Survival on a London Trading Floor. Sci Rep 6, 32986 (2016)