Consciousness, Body and Emotions: A New Perspective

Abstract

This essay offers a new way of looking at consciousness, suggesting that its origin lies in bodily sensations rather than rational activity. Through the concept of interoception - the ability to perceive the body’s internal signals - it argues that feelings related to maintaining bodily balance, such as pain, hunger, thirst, or discomfort, form the foundation of conscious experience. These physiological signals, often subtle, not only influence what we do and decide but also shape our sense of self and the way we relate to others and to the world around us.
Throughout the text, a distinction is made between feelings and emotions, and neuroscientific models are presented to show how the brain anticipates, interprets, and regulates signals coming from the body. Consciousness is thus seen as a living, ever-changing process, arising from the interaction between the body, the brain, and the surrounding context. This perspective brings important clinical implications, highlighting body-centered therapeutic practices such as mindfulness, biofeedback, and psychotherapeutic approaches focused on emotional regulation.

Keywords: Homeostatic feelings, consciousness, interoception.