Interoceptive contributions to bodily self-consciousness: insights from theoretical and experimental approaches

This thesis is organized into four main parts, each addressing a complementary aspect of how interoceptive processes contribute to bodily self-consciousness. The general aim is to explore, through theoretical synthesis and empirical investigation, the mechanisms by which internal bodily signals support the continuity and stability of self-consciousness. The work combines a systematic review with two empirical studies that progressively move from conceptual clarification to correlational and causal evidence. Chapter 1 provides the theoretical background and rationale for the thesis. It introduces the concept of interoception and dissociation and outlines the growing interest in interoception as a potential key mechanism supporting self-related processing. Chapter 2 presents a systematic review of empirical and theoretical research on the relationship between interoception and dissociation, trying to identify consistent evidence that atypical interoceptive processing is associated with disturbances in self-awareness and self-consciousness. Chapter 3 will examine individual differences in interoception (sensibility and accuracy) in relation to susceptibility to transient alterations in bodily self-consciousness and self perception during the Mirror Gazing Task. Chapter 4 will introduce an experimental manipulation of interoceptive–exteroceptive coherence. Using real-time auditory heartbeat feedback during the Mirror Gazing Task, it will investigate how temporal synchrony or asynchrony between internal and external bodily cues modulates self-perception and dissociative-like experiences. The final section (Chapter 5) will integrate findings across the three studies. It discusses the implications of the results within predictive and interoceptive coding accounts of self-consciousness, emphasizing how coherence between internal and external bodily signals underlies the stability of bodily self-consciousness. Methodological considerations and future research directions are outlined, along with the potential relevance of this work for understanding the mechanisms underlying the relationship between interoception, dissociation and other self-related disturbances.