Alexithymia, not autism, is associated with impaired interoception

Punit Shah; Richard Hall; Caroline Catmur; Geoffrey Bird

doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2016.03.021

Alexithymia, not autism, is associated with impaired interoception

Punit Shah^*, Richard Hall, Caroline Catmur, Geoffrey Bird

^*Corresponding author for this work

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

165 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	215-220
Number of pages	6
Journal	Cortex
Volume	81
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2016.03.021
Publication status	Published - 1 Aug 2016

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
P.S. is supported by a doctoral studentship from the Medical Research Council . R.H. was supported by an Undergraduate Bursary from the Experimental Psychology Society . G.B. is supported by a grant from the Baily Thomas Charitable Fund “Interoception and Autism Spectrum Disorders”. We thank Aaron Dettner and Adam Skinner for their assistance with data collection.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The Authors.

Keywords

Alexithymia
Autism
Body awareness
Interoception
Interoceptive awareness

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Neuroscience

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10.1016/j.cortex.2016.03.021

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title = "Alexithymia, not autism, is associated with impaired interoception",

abstract = "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.",

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note = "Funding Information: P.S. is supported by a doctoral studentship from the Medical Research Council . R.H. was supported by an Undergraduate Bursary from the Experimental Psychology Society . G.B. is supported by a grant from the Baily Thomas Charitable Fund “Interoception and Autism Spectrum Disorders”. We thank Aaron Dettner and Adam Skinner for their assistance with data collection. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 The Authors.",

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Alexithymia, not autism, is associated with impaired interoception

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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