Losing the boundary: Cognition biases action well after action selection

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Human Action Selection

Background:

• Traditional models propose serial processing for action selection.
• Alternative theories suggest parallel implementation and competition of action plans.
• Disentangling these hypotheses requires precise temporal analysis of action selection dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the temporal dynamics of action selection.
• To differentiate between serial and parallel processing models of action selection.
• To determine if action selection continues after movement onset.

Main Methods:

• A reaching task was designed to assess action selection temporal dynamics.
• Congruence probability between cue and target was manipulated.
• Reach trajectories were analyzed to infer underlying action selection mechanisms.

Main Results:

• Reach trajectories were significantly modulated by congruence probability.
• Evidence supports action selection as a temporally spread process.
• Competition between multiple action plans influences movement execution.

Conclusions:

• Action selection is not strictly serial but involves parallel processing and competition.
• The action selection process extends beyond movement initiation.
• Task-relevant factors, such as reach probability, bias parallel action plan competition.