Scientific mapping of interoception research in the context of sport: A bibliometric and network analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to systematically examine the developmental dynamics, intellectual structure, and thematic orientations of the scientific literature on interoception in the context of sport through bibliometric methods. Specifically, it sought to identify publication trends, country and institutional collaborations, citation structures, journal clustering patterns, and conceptual concentration areas. The study was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection database with the keywords “interoception” and “sport.” Publications between 2004 and 2026 were screened, and 125 studies were included following a preliminary selection process. Data were analyzed using the Bibliometrix R package and the Biblioshiny interface. VOSviewer software was employed to visualize bibliometric networks and examine co-citation clusters. The analyses included annual scientific production, country distribution, international collaboration rates, citation analysis, keyword co-occurrence networks, journal co-citation analysis, and thematic mapping. A total of 125 publications were analyzed. The field demonstrated a marked increase in productivity after 2015, reaching its peak in 2021. The annual growth rate was 3.2%. The average number of authors per document was 4.82, with an international co-authorship rate of 41.6%. The mean citation count was 22.52, and the average document age was 4.65 years. Scientific production was concentrated in specific countries, with the United Kingdom contributing the highest number of publications. Co-citation analysis revealed that the literature clusters predominantly around psychology, neuroscience, and cognitive science. In the keyword analysis, “interoception,” “accuracy,” and “sensitivity” emerged as the terms with the highest total link strength. Thematic mapping indicated that these concepts were positioned as motor themes, whereas “physical activity” and “fatigue” were identified as emerging themes. The literature on interoception in the context of sport represents a rapidly growing and increasingly interdisciplinary field, particularly diversifying through psychophysiological and cognitive mechanisms. The findings suggest that future research should address the relationships among sport performance, body awareness, and neurophysiological regulation processes within more integrative models. By mapping the knowledge structure and developmental trajectories of the field, this study provides a strategic framework for future investigations.