73rd Annual Nebraska Symposium on Motivation
The Intersection of Interoception, Conditioning, and Motivation on Addiction, Health, and Well-being
April 16-17, 2026 | City Campus Union | Registration is Free & Open to the Public
Organized by Rick Bevins, University of Nebraska-Lincoln & Joyce Besheer, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Interoceptive signals, whether consciously perceived or not, play a critical role in shaping behavior, motivation, and overall well-being. As the field of interoceptive conditioning approaches its 100-year anniversary, the 2026 Nebraska Symposium on Motivation will explore how these internal stimuli, influenced by environmental conditioning processes, impact addiction, mental health, and disease. Titled “The Intersection of Interoception, Conditioning, and Motivation on Addiction, Health, and Well-being,” this symposium will bring together leading researchers to provide timely insights into the clinical and theoretical significance of interoceptive processing and its role in shaping behavior.
The portal for poster presentations and data blitz submissions will close on January 30, 2026. Registration for this event will close on April 10, 2026.
We are excited to welcome our distinguished keynote speakers for 2026!
Dr. Joyce Besheer
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
"Feeling the Buzz: Alcohol Interoceptive Effects and Peripheral Responses"
Dr. Rick Bevins
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
"Interoception, Learning, and Nicotine Use Liability"
Dr. Kristen Lindquist
Ohio State University
"The role of Interoception in Emotion"
Dr. Martin Paulus
Laureate Institute for Brain Research
“Inside & Insight: Metacognition and Interoception - A Computational Approach"
Dr. Anthony Riley
American University
"The Role of Interoception in Regulated and Dysregulated Drug Intake"
Dr. Karen Quigley
Northeastern University
"The Role of Interoceptive Signals in Motivation"