One aspect of my investigation looks at neurological Interoception in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E) patients. Interoception is considered to be The 8th Sense, a link between bodily sensation and emotional reactions. In recent decades the idea of how the body processes information and bodily sensations has created the idea of the experienced phenomenologically lived body as the basis of consciousness. Limited computational and cognitive theories suggests that the study of interoception remains enactive.
In M.E patients, for example, when they become sick, the bodies ‘Sick Response’ is not temporary for the short period we are ill as it should be, but remains heightened, causing brain fog and delayed cognition. I explore interoception by photographing brain scans and brain responses when they suffer post-exertional malaise following a short period of exercise.