title: Twin peaks: an ERP study of action planning and control in co-acting individuals.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that perceiving another's actions activates corresponding representations in an observer's action system. The present study investigated how performing a task with another person affects action planning and control. Reaction times (RTs) and event-related potentials were measured while participants performed a go/no-go task alone and with another person. Three effects of acting together were observed. First, RTs were slowed when individuals had to respond to a stimulus referring to the other's action, suggesting that an action selection conflict occurred. Second, at frontal sites, a stimulus referring to the other's action elicited a similar electrophysiological response as a stimulus referring to one's own action. Finally, on no-go trials, P300 amplitude was significantly larger in a group setting, indicating that an action was suppressed. These findings provide evidence that individuals acting in a social context form shared action representations.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Department, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07102, USA. sebanz@psychology.rutgers.edu
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sebanz
authors.forename: Günther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Knoblich
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Prinz
authors.forename: Edmund
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wascher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000379:methods; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology*; D012938:Social Perception