Delfin Tursin */**, Andrew Cooke ***, Germano Gallicchio *** and Martina Gandola *
(*) Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy
(**) Unit of Health Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1860-3776
(***) Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance, Bangor University, United Kingdom
Citation
Tursin, D., Cooke, A., Gallicchio, G., Gandola, M. (2026). I see it in my mind but do I feel it from the heart? Examining the relationship between imagery ability and interoception. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 57(4), 375-388. doi:10.7352/IJSP.2026.57.375
Abstract
Motor imagery (MI) involves mentally simulating movements without execution. The way we perceive signals coming from the inside of the body (interoception), may share common mechanisms with MI, though their relationship is unclear. We therefore examined the relationship between subjective and objective measures of MI and interoception. Thirty-two volunteers completed self-report and objective assessments: the Vividness of Motor Imagery Questionnaire (VMIQ), mental chronometry tasks, heartbeat detection tasks, and the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-2). VMIQ and MAIA-2 were significantly correlated [r=-.377, (p=.037)], while objective MI and interoception measures reflected no significant correlation [r=-.047, (p=.799)]. Results did not support the expected positive relationship between interoception and motor imagery abilities. Future research investigating the putative shared mechanisms of MI and interoception could examine motor expertise as an additional relevant factor while retaining MI and interoception assessments at various physiological and psychological levels
Keywords: Motor imagery, Interoception, Sport performance