Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
08:01
Virtual Hand with Ambiguous Movement between the Self and Other Origin: Sense of Ownership and 'Other-Produced' Agency
Published on: October 28, 2020
An object for an action, the same object for other actions: effects on hand shaping
Caterina Ansuini1, Livia Giosa, Luca Turella
1Dipartimento di Psicologia Generale, Università di Padova, via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, Italy.
Experimental Brain Research
|October 3, 2007
Summary
Grasping kinematics, or finger movements before touching an object, change based on the intended future task. This indicates that our brains plan grasping actions in advance, considering the goal.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biomechanics
- Human Motor Control
Background:
- Object grasping is influenced by object properties, context, and the agent's goal.
- Previous research often assumes a direct link between sensory input and motor output.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if grasping kinematics (finger positioning before contact) differ based on the intended post-grasping task.
- To explore the role of anticipatory control in object manipulation.
Main Methods:
- Participants grasped a bottle for five different tasks (no action, throw, pour, place, pass).
- Resistive sensors in a glove measured joint angles (metacarpal-phalangeal and proximal interphalangeal) and digit abduction.
- Kinematic data were collected during the pre-contact reaching and grasping phases.
Main Results:
- The intended task significantly influenced finger positioning during the reaching phase.
- Grasping kinematics varied depending on the specific action to be performed after grasping.
Conclusions:
- A simple stimulus-response model is insufficient to explain grasping behavior.
- Internal models of anticipatory control likely explain how future goals shape immediate motor actions during grasping.
Related Concept Videos
01:06Fixed Action Patterns
A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.
01:19Role of Shaping in Operant Conditioning
Shaping is a technique used in operant conditioning to train complex behaviors by rewarding successive approximations toward the target behavior. This method is necessary because organisms are unlikely to perform complex behaviors spontaneously. Instead, shaping breaks down the desired behavior into small, manageable steps.
The steps involved in shaping begin with reinforcing any response that resembles the desired behavior. For example, parents might praise a child for picking up one toy. As...
The steps involved in shaping begin with reinforcing any response that resembles the desired behavior. For example, parents might praise a child for picking up one toy. As...
01:29Impression Management Techniques III: Aligning Actions
Aligning actions are communicative strategies individuals employ to maintain social harmony and preserve personal identity in the face of potential disruptions to social norms. These actions are particularly important in managing social impressions when one's behavior might be seen as inappropriate, incompetent, or morally questionable.Types of Aligning ActionsThe three principal types of aligning actions are disclaimers, accounts, and apologies.DisclaimersDisclaimers are preventive; they are...
01:11Bending of Members Made of Several Materials
In analyzing a structural member composed of two different materials with identical cross-sectional areas, it is crucial to understand how their distinct elastic properties affect the member's response under load. The analysis involves assessing stress and strain distributions using the transformed section concept, which accounts for variations in material properties.
Hooke's Law determines stress in each material, stating that stress is proportional to strain but varies due to each material's...
Hooke's Law determines stress in each material, stating that stress is proportional to strain but varies due to each material's...
01:14Design Example: Managing Concrete Workability
This example deals with managing the workability of concrete for a raft foundation project under hot weather conditions. Workability is crucial for ensuring the concrete is easy to place, compact, and finish. In this scenario, a slump test — a common method to measure the workability of fresh concrete — initially indicated low workability. This was attributed to the rapid water loss from the concrete mix, exacerbated by the high temperatures causing the course aggregates to heat up.
To address...
To address...
00:55Composite Bodies
A composite body is a body made up of multiple parts, connected to form a larger, unified object. Each part has its own weight and center of gravity, which must be considered to determine the center of gravity of the composite body. In cases where the density or specific weight is constant, the center of gravity coincides with the centroid.
Composite bodies have widespread applications in mechanical engineering, from automobiles to aircraft to rockets. For example, an automobile wheel comprises...
Composite bodies have widespread applications in mechanical engineering, from automobiles to aircraft to rockets. For example, an automobile wheel comprises...