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Published on: May 14, 2014
Assessing intentional binding with the method of constant stimuli
Sophie Nolden1, Carola Haering, Andrea Kiesel
1Julius-Maximilians University Würzburg, Department of Psychology, Röntgenring 11, 97070 Würzburg, Germany. sophie.nolden@umontreal.ca
Consciousness and Cognition
|June 26, 2012
Summary
Intentional binding, the perceived temporal approximation of actions and effects, was observed for 600 ms intervals but not 250 ms intervals. The method of constant stimuli proved effective for assessing this phenomenon.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Perception Science
Background:
- Intentional binding is the subjective experience where voluntary actions and their sensory consequences feel closer in time.
- Understanding the temporal dynamics of intentional binding is crucial for comprehending agency and action control.
- Previous research has employed various methods to investigate intentional binding, with varying degrees of success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate the method of constant stimuli for assessing intentional binding.
- To investigate the influence of action-effect interval duration (250 ms vs. 600 ms) on intentional binding.
- To compare the efficacy of the method of constant stimuli with existing techniques for measuring intentional binding.
Main Methods:
- Participants performed voluntary key presses or experienced passive key presses, followed by a visual effect after either 250 ms or 600 ms.
- The method of constant stimuli was employed, requiring participants to compare the perceived duration of the action-effect interval with a simultaneously presented tone of varying duration.
- Intentional binding was quantified by comparing the perceived duration of the action-effect interval in active versus passive conditions.
Main Results:
- Intentional binding was reliably observed for action-effect intervals of 600 ms in both experimental setups.
- No significant evidence of intentional binding was found for action-effect intervals of 250 ms.
- The method of constant stimuli demonstrated suitability for measuring intentional binding, showing significant effects at longer intervals.
Conclusions:
- The method of constant stimuli is a viable and effective tool for the psychophysical assessment of intentional binding.
- The temporal window for experiencing intentional binding appears to be sensitive to the duration of the action-effect interval, with longer intervals (600 ms) facilitating the effect.
- These findings contribute to a refined understanding of the temporal characteristics underlying the sense of agency.
