Infer yourself: Interoception and internal “action” in conscious selfhood
Behavioral and Brain Sciences January 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1017/s0140525x15002265 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractConsciousness may be linked to voluntary action selection, but a narrow focus on skeletomotor control overlooks how interoception and autonomic regulation contribute to conscious selfhood and subjectivity. From the perspective of predictive processing, internal 'action'—the regulation of the body's internal state—plays a crucial role in shaping conscious experience. The argument suggests that understanding consciousness requires integrating both external action selection and internal bodily regulation.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Interoception Consciousness Subjectivity Action physics Perspective graphical |
| Citations | 4 |
| Key finding | Consciousness cannot be fully understood through voluntary skeletomotor action selection alone; interoception and autonomic regulation are essential to conscious selfhood and subjectivity. |
Abstract
Can consciousness be understood through an association with voluntary skeletomotor action selection? Although flexible and integrated action selection is a plausible function for consciousness, a narrow focus on skeletomotor control neglects the contributions to conscious selfhood and subjectivity that rest on interoception and autonomic regulation (internal "action"). I consider these issues from the perspective of predictive processing.