Shared action spaces: a basis function framework for social re-calibration of sensorimotor representations supporting...

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Neuroscience
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Social interactions require aligning spatial and social perspectives between individuals.
• Sensorimotor transformations and multisensory integration are key to coordinated actions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To formalize and explain the mechanisms underlying spatial and social perspective alignment during social interaction.
• To propose a model for how co-actors create a Shared Action Space (SAS).

Main Methods:

• The study proposes a principle of "social re-calibration" where sensorimotor mechanisms incorporate information about other actors.
• It suggests this process is analogous to visual recalibration with tool use.
• The concept of common basis function maps (BFMs) is proposed as a basis for social re-calibration.

Main Results:

• Social re-calibration merges co-actors' spatial representations into a Shared Action Space (SAS).
• SAS supports crucial computations for joint actions, including reference frame remapping and prediction.
• Discrepancies in alignment can influence the recalibration process.

Conclusions:

• Social re-calibration provides an optimal solution for sensorimotor transformation and multisensory integration in social contexts.
• Alignment is achieved and maintained through various mechanisms, ranging from automatic to controlled.
• There is a link between low-level spatial sharing and high-level cognitive representation sharing.