Comparison of Shape, Space, and Time Judgments in Expert Dancers and Novices: Evidence that Production Enhances...

Neuroimaging and behavioral studies have indicated that expertise in dance is associated with differences in the visual processing of dance movements. This study sought to determine if dance expertise was also associated with the ability to recognize visual differences between dance movements. Participants (20 dancers and 20 non-dancers) watched pairs of video clips showing dance phrases. Within each pair of phrases a manipulation was made to a single movement in the categories of shape (25%), time (25%), or space (25%), or there was no manipulation made between the two videos (25%). After viewing each pair, participants used pencil and paper to indicate if they observed a difference between the phrases and, if so, in which category. Group differences were compared for each category with four separate t-tests. Results showed that dancers were better at recognizing manipulations of space, time, and trials with no change but did not differ from non-dancers at recognizing manipulations of shape. Results are discussed in reference to the tested hypothesis that the ability and experience to produce an action is associated with enhanced perception of similar actions.