The case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: a kinematic study on social intention.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of social intentions on action. Participants (N=13) were requested to reach towards, grasp an object, and either pass it to another person (social condition) or put it on a concave base (single-agent condition). Movements' kinematics was recorded using a three-dimensional motion analysis system. The results indicate that kinematics is sensitive to social intention. Movements performed for the 'social' condition were characterized by a kinematic pattern which differed from those obtained for the 'single-agent' condition. Results are discussed in terms of a motor simulation hypothesis, which assumes that the same mechanisms underlying motor intention are sensitive to social intentions.
Becchio
Cristina
C
Centro di Scienza Cognitiva, Dipartimento di Psicologia, Università di Torino, Italy.
Sartori
Luisa
L
Bulgheroni
Maria
M
Castiello
Umberto
U
D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003071:Cognition; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception