Not everyone has an inner monologue. What do scientists say about it? : Short Wave : NPR

Emily Kwong is pretty sure she lacks an inner monologue, while the inner monologue of producer Rachel Carlson won't stop chatting. But how well can a person know their inner self? And what does science have to say about it?

Since the late 19th century, scientists have been studying inner experience – the thoughts, feelings, and sensations that characterize a person's inner life. That includes inner speech (aka "an inner monologue") and in some individuals, hearing voices.

In this episode, we speak to two of the leading researchers in the field:

Russell Hurlburt, a psychologist at the University of Nevada. To learn more about Descriptive Experience Sampling and watch interviews with DES participants, visit his website .

Charles Fernyhough, a professor of psychology at Durham Univers