How much attention do you pay to your body's signals?

The Interoceptive Attention Scale (IATS) is a validated self-report measure developed by researchers Eleonora Gabriele, Ria Spooner, Rebecca Brewer, and Jennifer Murphy to assess the extent to which internal bodily signals are the focus of your attention in daily life—such as whether your heart is beating fast, whether you're hungry, whether you're hot or cold, and other physiological sensations.

The IATS measures your interoceptive attention: how much your attentional focus is directed toward internal bodily signals, regardless of whether those signals are actually present at the time.

Note: This survey is not a diagnostic tool. It is part of a research study exploring different dimensions of bodily awareness and how they relate to imagery experiences, including aphantasia.

Instructions: Below are several statements regarding how much attention you pay to specific bodily sensations. Please rate on the scale how much attention you generally focus on each signal.

Please rate how much attention you pay to these signals regardless of whether the sensations are actually occurring. For example, you might frequently focus attention on whether you need to urinate even when your bladder is not full, or you might rarely pay attention to your heartbeat even during exercise when it is beating rapidly.

What counts as attention to a bodily signal: Actively monitoring or being aware of whether a sensation is occurring (e.g., regularly checking in with yourself about whether you're hungry, or noticing your breathing pattern throughout the day).

What does not count as attention: Only noticing a signal when it becomes very intense or impossible to ignore, or only becoming aware of it when someone else points it out.