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Preparing to grasp emotionally laden stimuli.

Laura Alice Santos de Oliveira¹, Luís Aureliano Imbiriba, Maitê Mello Russo

¹Laboratório de Neurobiologia II, Programa de Neurobiologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.

|October 2, 2012

Summary

Motor preparation includes predicting stimulus valence. Pleasant stimuli showed lower readiness potential, while unpleasant stimuli showed higher readiness potential, indicating valence influences motor planning.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Motor Control
Cognitive Psychology

Background:

Motor planning theories suggest action outcomes, including costs and rewards, are predicted.
Valence, the pleasantness or unpleasantness of a stimulus, is a key component of these predictions.
This study investigates whether motor preparation incorporates stimulus valence.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine if motor preparation processes the valence of upcoming stimuli.
To examine the relationship between stimulus valence and electrophysiological markers of motor preparation.

Main Methods:

Recorded the readiness potential, an electrophysiological marker of motor preparation.
Participants prepared to grasp pleasant, neutral, and unpleasant stimuli.
Stimuli were controlled for weight and grip to isolate valence effects.

Main Results:

Readiness potential amplitude differed based on stimulus valence.
Grasping pleasant stimuli was preceded by a lower amplitude readiness potential compared to neutral stimuli.
Grasping unpleasant stimuli was preceded by a higher amplitude readiness potential compared to neutral stimuli.

Conclusions:

Sensorimotor cortex activity before grasping is modulated by stimulus valence.
Lower readiness potential for pleasant stimuli may indicate pre-set motor programs.
Higher readiness potential for unpleasant stimuli suggests a conflict between action and aversion.