Tool use and the distalization of the end-effector.
We review recent neurophysiological data from macaques and humans suggesting that the use of tools extends the internal representation of the actor's hand, and relate it to our modeling of the visual control of grasping. We introduce the idea that, in addition to extending the body schema to incorporate the tool, tool use involves distalization of the end-effector from hand to tool. Different tools extend the body schema in different ways, with a displaced visual target and a novel, task-specific processing of haptic feedback to the hand. This distalization is critical in order to exploit the unique functional capacities engendered by complex tools.
Department of Computer Science and Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2520, USA. arbib@usc.edu
Michael A
MA
Arbib
James B
JB
Bonaiuto
Stéphane
S
Jacobs
Scott H
SH
Frey
D000818:Animals; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007699:Kinesthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D008251:Macaca; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009949:Orientation / Q000502:physiology*; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D053001:Tool Use Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch / Q000502:physiology