Multilevel Perceptual-Motor Coupling: From Action Understanding to Execution

Perceptual-motor coupling, fundamental to human cognition and behavior, plays a crucial role in dynamic interactive contexts ranging from basic motor control to complex action understanding. Recent evidence reveals how kinematic invariants-consistent patterns in human movement-serve as a common language between perception and action, enabling both movement execution and understanding. Through the lens of striking skills-a paradigmatic example that uniquely integrates multiple aspects of perceptual-motor interaction-this review synthesizes evidence for three distinct yet interacting levels of coupling. Level 1 coupling involves fundamental interactions between perceptual and motor processes through dual-stream visual processing, where kinematic invariants are initially extracted and processed. Level 2 encompasses sophisticated control mechanisms that maintain these invariant patterns during action execution through continuous sensorimotor integration. Level 3 coupling transforms these movement patterns into meaningful representations through the action observation network, enabling action understanding and prediction. Evidence indicates these levels operate simultaneously during real-world performance, with kinematic invariants being processed and utilized differently at each level while maintaining continuous interaction between levels. By synthesizing key theories such as the dual-stream model, model-based and online control, and common coding theory in relation to movement invariants, we provide an integrative understanding of perceptual-motor coupling applicable across various domains of human behavior. This multilevel perspective offers insights into the fundamental relationship between perception and action in human cognition, with implications spanning from everyday actions to specialized skills in sports. This article is categorized under: Psychology > Motor Skill and Performance Neuroscience > Behavior Philosophy > Action.