Deep Phenotyping of Interoception in Adolescence: Making the Imperceptible Perceptible

Overview:

This study looks at how teenagers' ability to sense their internal body signals affects mental health problems and tests new ways to improve this ability using virtual reality.

Abstract:

Interoceptive dysfunction has been implicated in the onset, persistence, and treatment of mental and behavioral health (MBH) conditions (e.g., anxiety, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders). However, it has received minimal investigation in the developmentally sensitive period of adolescence when most MBH conditions emerge. This study conducts a multi-modal phenotyping of interoception in adolescence (e.g., neuroimaging, physiology, behavioral, self-report) to investigate the relationship between interoception and key learning processes (e.g., aversive/fear learning, appetitive/reward learning). Additionally, it evaluates the efficacy of two distinct approaches to improve interoceptive outcomes using standardized single session interventions delivered in virtual reality (VR). The team will utilize advanced machine learning techniques to develop patient-centered profiles of interoceptive dysfunction and determine the intervention approaches that are most effective for each profile. Findings will provide insights into mechanisms that influence interoception in adolescence, identify efficacious mind-body interventions to improve interoceptive dysfunction, and create patient-centered profiles that lead to personalized treatments. Collectively, this will aid in the early detection and effective treatment of MBH associated with interoceptive dysfunction in adolescence.

Broader Impact:

This project will explore how teens sense signals from within their own bodies, such as hunger, heartbeat, or anxiety, and how this inner awareness affects mental health, using tools like brain scans and virtual reality. By identifying patterns and testing new ways to improve this internal sensing, the research could lead to earlier, more personalized treatments for conditions like anxiety and eating disorders during this critical stage of development.