Spatially incompatible tool use does not induce tactile neglect

Operating a tool that moves incompatibly with one's own body invokes conflict between representations of anticipated body-related and environment-related movement consequences. To revolve such conflict, agents might down-regulate (or "neglect") representations of body-related movement consequences during action preparation and execution. We tested body-related neglect by probing participants' tactile sensitivity when operating a tool which moved either spatially compatible or incompatible to their operating hand. Across four experiments, we found no evidence for conflict-induced body-neglect. These results suggest that any potential downregulation of body-related movement components does not extend to the processing of tactile stimulation. We discuss these results with respect to applied settings in which incompatibly moving tools are routinely used.