In this study we compare the emotion and motivation enhancing quality of mental imagery of activities to abstract verbal thought concerning identical material. We use self-report measures as well as pupil dilation as a physiological measure of emotional arousal during mental imagery of activities or abstract verbal thought. This study will provide novel insights into the emotional impact of mental imagery by investigating the physiological response via pupil dilation in addition to subjective self-report.

Preregistration: https://osf.io/93yvu

Researchers: Andreas Paetsch, Hannah Bär, Max Schneider, & Fritz Renner