RIO Conference 2026
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About the conference:
This year's conference will be held in the Brooks Building at Manchester Metropolitan University on 7-8th May 2026.
Please see below for information regarding the call for abstracts, conference registration, information about travel and accommodation, and other important information about the conference.
This year's conference will be held in the Brooks Building at Manchester Metropolitan University on 7-8th May 2026.
Please see below for information regarding the call for abstracts, conference registration, information about travel and accommodation, and other important information about the conference.
Conference programme:
The conference programme can be downloaded here:
The conference programme can be downloaded here:
| rio_2026_-_conference_programme.pdf |
Group photo:
The RIO group photo taken on the final day of the conference can be found here:
The RIO group photo taken on the final day of the conference can be found here:
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Student presentation awards:
The award for best student oral presentation was presented to Elise Van Caenegem from UCLouvain The award for best student poster presentation was presented to Isaac Dacre from Manchester Metropolitan University |
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Abstract submission: **Please note that the call for abstracts is now closed**
We welcome abstract submissions for both oral and poster presentations. Abstracts should be approximately 250 words in length (maximum of 1800 characters) and should be completed on the RIO group abstract submission form below:
The deadline for abstract submissions is Friday 6th February 2026
Please submit your abstract before the deadline by email to [email protected]. Please ensure that you include the words "RIO Abstract Submission" within the email subject line.
Presenters will be notified whether their abstract has been accepted in February/March 2026.
We welcome abstract submissions for both oral and poster presentations. Abstracts should be approximately 250 words in length (maximum of 1800 characters) and should be completed on the RIO group abstract submission form below:
The deadline for abstract submissions is Friday 6th February 2026
Please submit your abstract before the deadline by email to [email protected]. Please ensure that you include the words "RIO Abstract Submission" within the email subject line.
Presenters will be notified whether their abstract has been accepted in February/March 2026.
| rio_abstract_submission_form.pdf |
Conference registration: **Please note that registration for the conference has now closed**
Registration for the conference is now open. As usual, the conference is free-to-attend but registration is required to ensure accurate numbers for room and catering bookings.
Please register for the conference using this link: RIO 2026 Meeting Registration Form – Fill in form
Registration for the conference is now open. As usual, the conference is free-to-attend but registration is required to ensure accurate numbers for room and catering bookings.
Please register for the conference using this link: RIO 2026 Meeting Registration Form – Fill in form
Important dates:
- 12th December 2025 - Call for abstracts for oral and poster presentations opens
- January 2026 - Conference registration opens
- 6th February 2026 - Call for abstracts for oral and poster presentations closes
- February 2026 - Abstract review process
- February/March 2026 - Presenters notified of abstract review outcome
- March/April 2026 - Conference programme released online
- 17th April 2026 - Conference registration closes
- 7-8th May 2026 - RIO Conference
Invited speakers:
We are delighted to announce our two invited speakers for the conference:
We are delighted to announce our two invited speakers for the conference:
Prof Julia Simner (University of Sussex)
Title: Aphantasia, topophantasia, and the many ways we think Abstract: My talk explores the broad landscape of individual differences in mental imagery, focusing first on aphantasia and how weak or absent imagery shapes the ways people think. I’ll describe work from my lab showing that people with aphantasia are not the “verbal thinkers” they are often assumed to be. Alongside weak visual imagery they also show reduced verbal thinking, yet display surprisingly few weaknesses in memory, knowledge or language; indeed they often perform as accurately as -- or even better than -- controls. I’ll also discuss areas where people with aphantasia do struggle more, such as in recognising faces, while noting that they’re protected from certain forms of sensory overwhelm or indeed worry. I’ll then turn to our emerging findings on topophantasia, where unexpected, intrusive images of places appear uninvited and unconnected to ongoing thoughts (e.g., thinking about 19th Century composers consistently brings to mind an unrelated alleyway). Finally, I will look at how imagery interacts with other sensory differences, such as autism and synaesthesia. Together, my talk will challenge the traditional metaphor of a “blind mind’s eye” and instead reveals a far richer more intriguing picture of imagery diversity, in which people use many different ways to imagine, think, remember and understand the world. |
Dr Matthew Scott (Texas A&M University)
Title: The Sensory Conflict Hypothesis: A new framework for combined action observation and motor imagery Abstract: The relation between action observation (AO) and motor imagery (MI) has been of great interest across psychology, sports, and rehabilitation, due to their similar neurophysiological activations and covert nature. Combining and synchronising AO and MI of the same action (i.e., Congruent AOMI) is a powerful tool for enhancing motor-related brain activity and performance outcomes. However, a critical question remains: what neurophysiological mechanism drives these effects? Prevailing theories propose effects to be driven by a summation of the two independent sensorimotor representations (Dual Action Simulation Hypothesis), or by MI alone with the guidance of AO (Visual Guidance Hypothesis). To date, empirical research investigating these theories remains inconclusive. In this talk, I propose an alternative perspective: The Sensory Conflict Hypothesis. The Sensory Conflict Hypothesis holds that the enhanced effects of Congruent AOMI are not driven by perfect harmony between AO and MI representations, but rather by the detection and attenuation of subtle "error signals" between them. Drawing from an internal modeling framework, I will explain how sensory prediction errors are responsible for boosting motor activity and, as they are resolved, drive behavioural adaptation and learning. Based on these findings, I outline new avenues of research to further understand and optimise AOMI interventions. |
Conference dinner:
The conference dinner will take place on Thursday 7th May at 7.00pm at House of Social, a food hall with multiple cuisine types. Attendees will self-pay for their meals and drinks at the event.
The address is: House of Social, 10 Sir Howard Bernstein Approach, Manchester, M15 4ND.
If you wish to see the menu options before the event, you can access them here: Food Hall in Manchester | House of Social
The conference dinner will take place on Thursday 7th May at 7.00pm at House of Social, a food hall with multiple cuisine types. Attendees will self-pay for their meals and drinks at the event.
The address is: House of Social, 10 Sir Howard Bernstein Approach, Manchester, M15 4ND.
If you wish to see the menu options before the event, you can access them here: Food Hall in Manchester | House of Social
Location, travel, and accommodation:
Location
The conference will take place in the Brooks building at Manchester Metropolitan University. The address and postcode for the Brooks building is:
Brooks Building
Manchester Metropolitan University
53 Bonsall Street
Hulme
Manchester, UK
M15 6GX
Click here to download map of the campus. The Brooks building where the conference takes place is indicated by a 'BR' on the map. The building is quite distinctive and easily recognisable once you are nearby (see image at the top of the page).
Travel
Manchester Metropolitan University is easily accessible via multiple transport options. Visit the Travelling to Manchester Met page for advice on getting to the campus by road, rail, and air travel.
Accommodation
There are numerous accommodation options in central Manchester within walking distance of the conference venue. Several options are recommended below, but you may be able to find alternative accommodation options that are cheaper or closer to the conference venue by searching online.
Hyatt Regency 53 Booth Street, Manchester, M15 6PQ (10 minute walk to the Brooks building)
Hyatt House 55 Booth Street, Manchester, M15 6PQ (10 minute walk to the Brooks building)
Holiday Inn Express Manchester CC Oxford Road 2-4 Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 5QA (17 minute walk to the Brooks building)
Location
The conference will take place in the Brooks building at Manchester Metropolitan University. The address and postcode for the Brooks building is:
Brooks Building
Manchester Metropolitan University
53 Bonsall Street
Hulme
Manchester, UK
M15 6GX
Click here to download map of the campus. The Brooks building where the conference takes place is indicated by a 'BR' on the map. The building is quite distinctive and easily recognisable once you are nearby (see image at the top of the page).
Travel
Manchester Metropolitan University is easily accessible via multiple transport options. Visit the Travelling to Manchester Met page for advice on getting to the campus by road, rail, and air travel.
Accommodation
There are numerous accommodation options in central Manchester within walking distance of the conference venue. Several options are recommended below, but you may be able to find alternative accommodation options that are cheaper or closer to the conference venue by searching online.
Hyatt Regency 53 Booth Street, Manchester, M15 6PQ (10 minute walk to the Brooks building)
Hyatt House 55 Booth Street, Manchester, M15 6PQ (10 minute walk to the Brooks building)
Holiday Inn Express Manchester CC Oxford Road 2-4 Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 5QA (17 minute walk to the Brooks building)
