2026 Volume 33 Issue 3 Pages 489-501
Perceptual switching during bistable perception is associated with several individual traits. However, the contributions of bodily traits remain unclear. Interoceptive processes may influence perceptual stability through attentional control and cognitive resource allocation. Although the association between heartbeat-related interoception and perception has been examined, additional aspects of interoception warrant investigation. The present study examined whether interoceptive sensibility, as assessed using the Japanese version of the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA-J), was associated with perceptual switching, and whether this association varied depending on intentional control and stimulus type. A total of 293 participants completed bistable perception tasks using two stimuli under either an intentional-control condition or a no-control condition and then completed the MAIA-J. Perceptual switching was analyzed using hurdle models with the MAIA-J factors and intentional control as predictor variables, and likelihood ratio tests were used to evaluate the contribution of the interactions between the MAIA-J factors and intentional control. For the Necker cube, higher “Noticing” was associated with more switching, and “Attention Regulation” was associated with the occurrence of switching specifically under the intentional-control condition. For the dot apparent motion stimulus, interoceptive factors were differentially associated with switching frequency: under the intentional-control condition, higher “Body Listening” was associated with more switching, whereas under the no-control condition, higher “Noticing” was associated with more switching and higher “Emotional Awareness” was associated with less switching. These findings demonstrate an association between interoceptive sensibility and perceptual switching, and suggest that bodily awareness and attention to bodily signals may contribute to perceptual control.
