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What is interoception, and how mood can affect how well your vaccine works

When being able to tune into bodily signals like your own heart beating can be good – and bad. And how watching a bit of nostalgic comedy could boost how well your vaccine works.

This week we’re talking about interoception. That's the way the brain interprets the many signals that come from the body.

How useful is this skill, can you perfect it – and when might it have a more negative effect?

In the studio with Claudia is health psychologist Professor Kavita Vedhara who explains why watching 15 minutes of the Two Ronnies, some Fawlty Towers and a bit of Elvis Presley, could boost how well your vaccine works.

And Claudia meets a group from Essex who are finalists in this year’s All in the Mind awards.

The group teaches women who are experiencing anxiety, depression or abusive relationships how to ride a bike. We’ll hear how this simple community initiative is connecting people and even transforming lives, and why they just can’t stop smiling.

The awards take place at the BBC Radio Theatre in London on 18 June and there is a ballot for free tickets which closes at midday on 31 May. You can enter online by going to bbc.kongjiang.org/www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows.

Presenter: Claudia Hammond
Producer: Gerry Holt, Hannah Fisher and Helena Selby
Studio Manager: Jackie Margerum
Production Coordintator: Siobhan Maguire
Content Editor: Glyn Tansley

Available now

28 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Tue 13 May 2025 09:30
  • Wed 14 May 2025 21:30

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