The time between intention and action affects the experience of action

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Perception

Background:

• Sense of agency research typically contrasts voluntary and involuntary actions.
• The influence of different intention types on action experience is under-explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how the temporal delay between intention and action affects the experience of action.
• To differentiate the impact of proximal (immediate) versus delayed intentions on action perception.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an intentional binding paradigm, manipulating the delay between intention formation and action execution.
• Compared perceptual effects for proximal intentions versus delayed intentions.

Main Results:

• Delayed intentions led to a stronger binding effect between action and subsequent sensory events (tone).
• Actions were perceived as occurring earlier with delayed intentions compared to proximal intentions.
• These effects were distinct from the standard intentional binding phenomenon.

Conclusions:

• The temporal characteristics of intentions (proximal vs. delayed) differentially shape the experience of action.
• Two distinct perceptual shifts occur: altered binding and a shift in perceived action timing.
• Delayed intentions create a more pronounced sense of agency and temporal distortion.