Interoception and alcohol: Mechanisms, networks, and implications

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Addiction Research

Background:

• Interoception, the perception of internal bodily states, is crucial for mental health.
• Drugs of abuse, including alcohol, induce potent interoceptive states influencing intake and addiction.
• Understanding alcohol's impact on interoception is vital for addiction research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review interoceptive processes related to alcohol consumption.
• To discuss physiological, behavioral, and neural aspects of alcohol's interoceptive effects.
• To explore molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical research on brain networks and interoceptive impact on drinking.
• Review of preclinical studies on molecular and circuitry mechanisms.
• Synthesis of findings to propose a network-based framework.

Main Results:

• Alcohol significantly impacts interoceptive states, influencing drinking behavior and addiction.
• Clinical and preclinical studies reveal complex brain network involvement and molecular underpinnings.
• A network-based approach is essential for understanding interoceptive processing.

Conclusions:

• Interoception plays a critical role in alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• Integrating clinical and preclinical data offers a comprehensive view of alcohol's interoceptive effects.
• Targeting interoceptive processes presents promising avenues for novel AUD treatments.