title: Subliminal action priming modulates the perceived intensity of sensory action consequences.
abstract: The sense of control over the consequences of one's actions depends on predictions about these consequences. According to an influential computational model, consistency between predicted and observed action consequences attenuates perceived stimulus intensity, which might provide a marker of agentic control. An important assumption of this model is that these predictions are generated within the motor system. However, previous studies of sensory attenuation have typically confounded motor-specific perceptual modulation with perceptual effects of stimulus predictability that are not specific to motor action. As a result, these studies cannot unambiguously attribute sensory attenuation to a motor locus. We present a psychophysical experiment on auditory attenuation that avoids this pitfall. Subliminal masked priming of motor actions with compatible prime-target pairs has previously been shown to modulate both reaction times and the explicit feeling of control over action consequences. Here, we demonstrate reduced perceived loudness of tones caused by compatibly primed actions. Importantly, this modulation results from a manipulation of motor processing and is not confounded by stimulus predictability. We discuss our results with respect to theoretical models of the mechanisms underlying sensory attenuation and subliminal motor priming.
authors: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK; Department of Neurology, University of Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany. Electronic address: max-philipp.stenner@med.ovgu.de.
authors: Max-Philipp
authors: MP
authors: Stenner
authors: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
authors: Markus
authors: M
authors: Bauer
authors: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, UK.
authors: Nura
authors: N
authors: Sidarus
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany.
authors: Hans-Jochen
authors: HJ
authors: Heinze
authors: Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, UK.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Haggard
authors: Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
authors: Raymond J
authors: RJ
authors: Dolan
mesh_terms: D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D013360:Subliminal Stimulation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Motor predictions; NCE; Negative compatibility effect; PCE; Sense of agency; Sensory attenuation; Subliminal motor priming; negative compatibility effect; positive compatibility effect