title: The experience of new sensorimotor contingencies by sensory augmentation.
abstract: Embedded in the paradigm of embodied cognition, the theory of sensorimotor contingencies (SMCs) proposes that motor actions and associated sensory stimulations are tied together by lawful relations termed SMCs. We aimed to investigate whether SMCs can be learned by means of sensory augmentation. Therefore we focused on related perceptual changes. Subjects trained for 7 weeks with the feelSpace belt mapping information of the magnetic north to vibrotactile stimulation around the waist. They experienced substantial changes in their space perception. The belt facilitated navigation and stimulated the usage of new navigation strategies. The belt's vibrating signal changed to a kind of spatial information over time while the belt's appeal and perceived usability increased. The belt also induced certain emotional states. Overall, the results show that learning new SMCs with this relatively small and usable device leads to profound perceptual and emotional changes, which are fully compatible with embodied theories of cognition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Cologne, Richard-Strauss-Str. 2, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Osnabrück, Albrechtstr. 28, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany. Electronic address: kkaspar@uni-koeln.de.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaspar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Osnabrück, Albrechtstr. 28, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: König
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Osnabrück, Albrechtstr. 28, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany.
authors.forename: Jessika
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwandt
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Osnabrück, Albrechtstr. 28, 49076 Osnabrück, Germany; Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: König
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003020:Clothing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011434:Proprioception / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D055698:Touch Perception; D014732:Vibration; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Content analysis; Embodied cognition; FeelSpace belt; Hedonic qualities; Perceptual changes; Sensorimotor contingencies; Sensory augmentation; Subjective experiences; Usability