Alexithymia, not autism, is associated with impaired interoception

<p style="text-align:justify;"> It has been proposed that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with difficulties perceiving the internal state of one's body (i.e., impaired interoception), causing the socio-emotional deficits which are a diagnostic feature of the condit...

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Main Authors: Shah, P, Hall, R, Catmur, C, Bird, G
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2016
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author Shah, P
Hall, R
Catmur, C
Bird, G
author_facet Shah, P
Hall, R
Catmur, C
Bird, G
author_sort Shah, P
collection OXFORD
description <p style="text-align:justify;"> It has been proposed that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with difficulties perceiving the internal state of one's body (i.e., impaired interoception), causing the socio-emotional deficits which are a diagnostic feature of the condition. However, research indicates that alexithymia – characterized by difficulties in recognizing emotions from internal bodily sensations – is also linked to atypical interoception. Elevated rates of alexithymia in the autistic population have been shown to underpin several socio-emotional impairments thought to be symptomatic of ASD, raising the possibility that interoceptive difficulties in ASD are also due to co-occurring alexithymia. Following this line of inquiry, the present study examined the relative impact of alexithymia and autism on interoceptive accuracy (IA). Across two experiments, it was found that alexithymia, not autism, was associated with atypical interoception. Results indicate that interoceptive impairments should not be considered a feature of ASD, but instead due to co-occurring alexithymia. </p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:9d1620d2-14fb-47ce-a6eb-8dfff9eddcff2022-03-27T00:40:29ZAlexithymia, not autism, is associated with impaired interoceptionJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:9d1620d2-14fb-47ce-a6eb-8dfff9eddcffEnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordElsevier2016Shah, PHall, RCatmur, CBird, G <p style="text-align:justify;"> It has been proposed that Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with difficulties perceiving the internal state of one's body (i.e., impaired interoception), causing the socio-emotional deficits which are a diagnostic feature of the condition. However, research indicates that alexithymia – characterized by difficulties in recognizing emotions from internal bodily sensations – is also linked to atypical interoception. Elevated rates of alexithymia in the autistic population have been shown to underpin several socio-emotional impairments thought to be symptomatic of ASD, raising the possibility that interoceptive difficulties in ASD are also due to co-occurring alexithymia. Following this line of inquiry, the present study examined the relative impact of alexithymia and autism on interoceptive accuracy (IA). Across two experiments, it was found that alexithymia, not autism, was associated with atypical interoception. Results indicate that interoceptive impairments should not be considered a feature of ASD, but instead due to co-occurring alexithymia. </p>
spellingShingle Shah, P
Hall, R
Catmur, C
Bird, G
Alexithymia, not autism, is associated with impaired interoception
title Alexithymia, not autism, is associated with impaired interoception
title_full Alexithymia, not autism, is associated with impaired interoception
title_fullStr Alexithymia, not autism, is associated with impaired interoception
title_full_unstemmed Alexithymia, not autism, is associated with impaired interoception
title_short Alexithymia, not autism, is associated with impaired interoception
title_sort alexithymia not autism is associated with impaired interoception
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