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Updated: Apr 23, 2026
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Real-Time Proxy-Control of Re-Parameterized Peripheral Signals using a Close-Loop Interface
Published on: May 8, 2021
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The continuous dynamics of planning and acting in a virtually embodied task
Davide Nuzzi1, Paul Cisek2, Giovanni Pezzulo1
1Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, National Research Council, Rome 00185 Italy.
Summary
People balance immediate choices with future goals when making sequential decisions in embodied tasks. Planning ahead, not just immediate options, improves performance in real-world scenarios.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Human-Computer Interaction
- Robotics
Background:
- Everyday tasks involve sequential embodied decisions, intertwining planning and action.
- Understanding how individuals balance immediate options with long-term goals is crucial for decision-making research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how people make sequential embodied decisions, balancing immediate affordances and long-term utilities.
- To analyze the influence of spatial and embodied factors on decision strategies in a virtual river-crossing task.
Main Methods:
- Designed a virtual river-crossing task where participants controlled an avatar jumping across rocks.
- Employed behavioral and computational analyses to assess decision-making strategies.
- Utilized computational modeling to evaluate the impact of planning on performance.
Main Results:
- Participants planned paths ahead rather than focusing solely on immediate jumping affordances.
- Movement direction and momentum influenced choices between safe and risky jumps.
- Farsighted participants, weighting future utility more, demonstrated better task performance.
Conclusions:
- Decision-making in embodied settings is influenced by both immediate and future considerations.
- Spatial and dynamic task components significantly impact strategic choices.
- Planning is essential for effective decision-making in ecologically valid, action-oriented environments.
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