title: Are We Real When We Fake? Attunement to Object Weight in Natural and Pantomimed Grasping Movements.
abstract: Behavioral and neuropsychological studies suggest that real actions and pantomimed actions tap, at least in part, different neural systems. Inspired by studies showing weight-attunement in real grasps, here we asked whether (and to what extent) kinematics of pantomimed reach-to-grasp movement can reveal the weight of the pretended target. To address this question, we instructed participants (n= 15) either to grasp or pretend to grasp toward two differently weighted objects, i.e., a light object and heavy object. Using linear discriminant analysis, we then proceeded to classify the weight of the target - either real or pretended - on the basis of the recorded movement patterns. Classification analysis revealed that pantomimed reach-to-grasp movements retained information about object weight, although to a lesser extent than real grasp movements. These results are discussed in relation to the mechanisms underlying the control of real and pantomimed grasping movements.
authors.affiliation: C'MON Unit, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ansuini
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Turin Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cavallo
authors.affiliation: U-VIP Unit, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campus
authors.affiliation: C'MON Unit, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Quarona
authors.affiliation: C'MON Unit, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Atesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koul
authors.affiliation: C'MON Unit, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaGenova, Italy; Department of Psychology, University of TurinTorino, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Becchio
keywords: kinematics; linear discriminant analysis; object weight; pantomime; reach-to-grasp