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Related Concept Videos

Sensation01:21

Sensation

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Sensory receptors are specialized neurons that respond to specific types of external stimuli, initiating the process known as sensation. This occurs when sensory input, such as light entering the eye, is detected by these receptors, causing chemical changes in the cells of the retina. These cells then convert the sensory stimulus into action potentials that are transmitted to the central nervous system, a process termed transduction.
Absolute thresholds can quantify the sensitivity of sensory...
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If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
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The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.
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The somatosensory system is the central and peripheral nervous system component that senses and processes touch, pressure, pain, temperature, and body position or proprioception. The process of sensation takes place at three levels:
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Perception is a fundamental psychological process that enables individuals to organize, interpret, and consciously experience sensory information. This process is crucial for understanding and interacting with the world around us. It includes both bottom-up and top-down processing, each playing a distinct role in how we perceive our environment.
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Sensation typically is the process by which the sensory receptors and sense organs detect stimuli from the internal and external environment and transmit this information to the central nervous system for processing.
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Updated: Aug 28, 2025

Corticospinal Excitability Modulation During Action Observation
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Sensory attenuation from action observation.

Mark Scott1

  • 1Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada. mark.a.j.scott@gmail.com.

Experimental Brain Research
|September 19, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding others' actions involves simulating them in the motor system. Observing actions reduces touch sensation intensity, suggesting forward models are engaged during action observation.

Keywords:
Action observationEmbodied cognitionForward modelsSensory attenuation

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Motor Control
  • Embodied Cognition

Background:

  • Embodied cognition posits action understanding relies on motor system simulation.
  • Forward models within the motor system simulate actions and consequences for sensory monitoring.
  • Forward-model simulations are known to attenuate sensory intensity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if forward models are engaged during action observation.
  • To test if observing actions leads to sensory attenuation.

Main Methods:

  • Participants observed active touch (reaching) versus passive touch (being touched).
  • Perceived intensity of a touch sensation on the finger was measured.
  • Sensory attenuation was compared with sensory amplification from visual attention.

Main Results:

  • Touch sensation was perceived as less intense during active touch observation compared to passive touch.
  • Evidence suggests forward models are engaged during action observation.
  • The role of visual attention-induced sensory amplification in action observation studies was highlighted.

Conclusions:

  • Action observation engages forward models, supporting embodied cognition theories.
  • Sensory attenuation during action observation is a measurable phenomenon.
  • Considering sensory amplification effects may resolve inconsistencies in prior research.