Observation of a finger or an object movement primes imitative responses differentially

Jonas, M., Biermann-Ruben, K., Kessler, K., Lange, R., Baumer, T., Siebner, H., Schnitzler, A. and Munchau, A. (2007) Observation of a finger or an object movement primes imitative responses differentially. Experimental Brain Research, 177, pp. 255-265. (doi: 10.1007/s00221-006-0660-y)

Abstract

Behavioural advantages for imitated human finger movements over movements instructed by other visual stimuli are attributed to an 'action observation-execution matching' (AOEM) mechanism. Here, we demonstrate that priming/exogenous cueing with a biological finger movement stimulus (S1) produces specific congruency effects in reaction times (RTs) of imitative responses to a target movement (S2) at defined stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs). When contrasted with a moving object at an SOA of 533ms, only a biological movement is capable of inducing an effect reminiscent of 'inhibition of return' (IOR), i.e. a significant advantage for imitation of a subsequent incongruent as compared to a congruent movement. When responses are primed by a biological movement at SOAs of 533 and 1200 ms, inhibition of congruent or facilitation of incongruent responses, respectively, is stronger as compared to priming by a moving object. This pattern does not depend on whether S2 presents a finger movement or a moving object, thus effects can not be attributed to visual similarity between S1 and S2. Instead, we propose that, whereas both priming by a biological movement and a moving object induces processes of spatial orienting, during observation of biological movement AOEM also comes into play eliciting an immediate imitative response tendency. As an overt response to S1 is inadequate in the setting tested here, the response tendency is inhibited which, in turn, modulates congruency effects.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kessler, Dr Klaus
• Authors: Jonas, M., Biermann-Ruben, K., Kessler, K., Lange, R., Baumer, T., Siebner, H., Schnitzler, A., and Munchau, A.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Psychology; College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: Experimental Brain Research