Cardiac interoception in neurological conditions and its relevance for dimensional approaches.

Dimensional and transdiagnostic frameworks have identified shared cognitive and emotional alterations across multiple neuropsychiatric conditions. However, while externally triggered neurocognitive processes have been extensively studied, disruptions in interoception—the processing of internal bodily signals—remain insufficiently understood across brain disorders. This chapter addresses this gap by proposing cardiac interoception as a potential common biomarker across neurological diseases. It examines core components of cardiac interoception, including the mechanisms underlying distinct interoceptive dimensions, the interplay between interoception, emotion, and social cognition, and the contribution of different interoceptive pathways. Drawing on behavioral, neuroanatomical, and functional neuroimaging evidence, the chapter situates current findings within an integrated experimental and clinical framework. It further evaluates the potential of interoception as a predictor of clinical outcomes, a marker of neurocognitive deficits in neurological conditions, and a conceptual platform for advancing treatment and prevention strategies. Finally, it outlines future directions aimed at refining the dimensional and transdiagnostic assessment of interoception across multiple pathologies.