Data for rating the perception of biological and intentional motion stimuli: Perceptual validation pilot study

Research on motion perception and the mirror neuron system in humans relies on non-invasive techniques such as electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging. However, these techniques depend upon the observation of concrete stimulus sets, the design and perception of which are expected to align with the researcher's definitions. Consequently, rating studies are conducted in experimental psychology to ensure consistency. Despite their significance, data from rating experiments are often omitted from publications. This manuscript provides access to a stimulus set and associated rating experiments' data to address this gap and to allow other researchers to employ it. Over the course of two experiments to which participants were randomly assigned, data were collected on the perceived source (origin), intentionality, and category of movements, as well as the attention captured by stimuli, all assessed via six-point Likert scales. It was revealed that participants rated the stimuli showing moving balls as a rather nonbiological and unintentional movement, which attracted relatively high attention. Simple hand movements were perceived as more biological and intentional movements, which captured fairly low attention compared to other stimuli and were assigned to the non-goal-directed biological category. Complex hand movements were rated as rather biological and intentional. Assigned to the category of goal-directed movements, these complex videos only moderately captured participants' attention, similar to the simple category. Finally, social scenario videos were perceived as highly biological and intentional movements, which gained comparatively high attention and were categorized as social interactions.