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What's next for interoception and addiction?
Davin R Peart1, Jennifer E Murray1
1Department of Psychology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada; Collaborative Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada.
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|July 17, 2026
Summary
Interoception, the perception of internal bodily signals, plays a key role in addiction. Understanding interoceptive drug cues is crucial for developing effective addiction treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Interoception, the awareness of internal bodily states, is increasingly recognized for its role in motivation and behavior.
- Aberrant interoception is linked to the development and maintenance of substance use disorders.
- Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of interoception in addiction is critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the theoretical basis of interoception's role in addiction.
- To explore candidate neurobiological mechanisms of interoceptive drug perception.
- To integrate interoception into broader addiction theories.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of theoretical frameworks and neurobiological evidence.
- Analysis of how interoceptive drug stimuli function as conditioned, discriminative, and occasion-setting stimuli.
- Examination of neurobiological pathways, including the insula and mesolimbic dopamine system.
Main Results:
- Interoceptive drug cues can drive appetitive behaviors through established learning mechanisms.
- The insula and mesolimbic dopamine neurons are likely involved in processing these interoceptive signals.
- Drug-related interoceptive and reinforcing properties are independent of sensitization and tolerance.
Conclusions:
- Interoception is a significant factor in the development and maintenance of addiction.
- Neurobiological mechanisms involving the insula and dopamine pathways are implicated.
- Further research into interoception's role is essential for advancing addiction science.
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