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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

Published on: January 23, 2017

Action intentions modulate visual processing during action perception.

Marta Bortoletto¹, Jason B Mattingley, Ross Cunnington

¹Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, IRCCS San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Via Pilastroni 4, 25123 Brescia, Italy. marta.bortoletto@cognitiveneuroscience.it

Neuropsychologia

|April 23, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Action planning directly influences how we perceive observed actions, even in early visual processing stages. This suggests a two-way connection between the brain's motor and perceptual systems.

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Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments

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Published on: January 23, 2017

Methods to Explore the Influence of Top-down Visual Processes on Motor Behavior

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Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation

Published on: December 31, 2013

Area of Science:

Cognitive Neuroscience
Neuroscience
Psychology

Background:

The link between perceptual and motor systems is debated.
Previous research suggested a role for the motor system in action perception, but direct evidence was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if action planning modulates early neural processes of action perception.
To determine if the motor system directly impacts visual processing of observed actions.

Main Methods:

Examined event-related potentials (ERPs) in response to images of hand gestures.
Participants planned either matching (congruent) or non-matching (incongruent) gestures while viewing images.
Assessed the N170/VPP component, associated with visual processing of hand gestures.

Main Results:

The N170/VPP component was significantly altered by concurrent action planning (congruent vs. incongruent).
This congruency effect was specific to action planning, not general semantic aspects.
Demonstrated that motor system encoding of actions directly affects visual processing.

Conclusions:

Findings support a bi-directional link between action and perception in the human brain.
Intended actions, via forward modeling, may facilitate sensory input encoding consistent with the action.