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Catch the star! Spatial information activates the manual motor system.
1Potsdam Embodied Cognition Group, Cognitive Sciences, Faculty of Human Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.
Plos One
|July 8, 2022
Summary
Visuospatial information processing automatically engages the manual motor system. The timing and direction of this effect depend on stimulus type, with visual objects and arrows showing faster, ipsilateral responses than words.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- A strong link exists between spatial attention and manual motor control.
- It remains unclear if explicit hand movements are required for this interaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if processing visuospatial information automatically activates the manual motor system.
- To determine the temporal dynamics and directional effects of this activation based on stimulus type.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-temporal-resolution bimanual grip force registration.
- Participants responded to lateralized stimuli, central arrows, and directional words while maintaining grip force.
Main Results:
- Early interaction observed between stimulus presentation and grip force.
- Lateralized objects and arrows increased ipsilateral grip force and decreased contralateral force.
- Directional words showed an opposite pattern, increasing contralateral force.
- Effects were fastest for objects (60 ms), followed by arrows (100 ms), and words (250 ms).
Conclusions:
- Processing visuospatial information automatically activates the manual motor system.
- The nature of this activation (timing and direction) is modulated by stimulus type, indicating distinct processing pathways.
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