Action preparation enhances the processing of tactile targets

We present two experiments in which we investigated whether tactile attention is modulated by action preparation. In Experiment 1, participants prepared a saccade toward either the left or right index finger, depending on the pitch of a non-predictive auditory cue. In Experiment 2, participants prepared to lift the left or right index finger in response to the auditory cue. In half of the trials in both experiments, a suprathreshold vibratory stimulus was presented with equal probability to either finger, to which the participants made a speeded foot response. The results showed facilitation in the processing of targets delivered at the goal location of the prepared movement (Experiment 1), as well as at the effector of the prepared movement (Experiment 2). These results are discussed within the framework of theories on motor preparation and spatial attention.