title: Observing human interaction with physical devices.
abstract: Previous study has shown that if we observe another person operating a tool or physical device, then the action rule of the observed action is automatically activated and can subsequently facilitate own actions. In this study, the mechanisms responsible for this automatic priming of actions are investigated. In two experiments, the question is raised whether priming arises from the observation of the physical device and its movements, or whether it is modulated by aspects of the person's behaviour. Whereas experiment 1 shows that priming effects are not influenced by the effector used by the observed person, experiment 2 demonstrates that they are modulated by the handle (and associated action rule) that is used to operate the device. These results suggest that motor resonance mechanisms are sensitive to the specific interaction between movements of an actor and associated movements of a physical device.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Ardeystrasse 67, 44139, Dortmund, Germany. massen@ifado.de
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Massen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition; D003210:Concept Formation / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007100:Imitative Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D019370:Observation; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D053001:Tool Use Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*
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