What is an affordance? 40 years later.

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Ecological Psychology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• The concept of affordance, introduced by James J. Gibson, describes action possibilities offered by the environment relative to an organism's capabilities.
• The term 'affordance' has been subject to diverse interpretations, leading to ambiguity in scientific literature.
• A clear operationalization is needed, particularly within the context of tool use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a clear operational definition of affordances and related concepts in the domain of tool use.
• To distinguish between the physical (objective) and neurocognitive (subjective) levels of affordance perception.
• To propose a neurocognitive model for understanding affordances in tool use.

Main Methods:

• Distinguishing between objective, physical properties and subjective, neurocognitive experiences of affordances.
• Proposing the three action-system (3AS) model based on neurocognitive systems.
• Analyzing the relationship between affordances, tool incorporation, and constraints on tool use.

Main Results:

• Affordances can be operationalized by differentiating between physical and neurocognitive levels.
• The three action-system (3AS) model posits distinct neurocognitive systems for motor control, mechanical knowledge, and function knowledge.
• The 3AS model provides a framework for addressing issues like tool incorporation and use constraints.

Conclusions:

• The proposed operationalization clarifies the concept of affordances in tool use.
• The 3AS model offers a neurocognitive basis for understanding how humans perceive and utilize affordances.
• This framework facilitates further research into the complex relationship between perception, cognition, and action in tool use.