Vision of the body is known to affect somatosensory perception (e.g. proprioception or tactile discrimination). However, it is unknown whether visual information about one's own body size can influence bodily action. We tested this by measuring the maximum grip aperture (MGA) parameter of grasping while eight subjects viewed a real size, enlarged or shrunken image of their hand reaching to grasp a cylinder. In the enlarged view condition, the MGA decreased relative to real size view, as if the grasping movement was actually executed with a physically larger hand, thus requiring a smaller grip aperture to grasp the cylinder. Interestingly, MGA remained smaller even after visual feedback was removed. In contrast, no effect was found for the reduced view condition. This asymmetry may reflect the fact that enlargement of body parts is experienced more frequently than shrinkage, notably during normal growth. In conclusion, vision of the body can significantly and persistently affect the internal model of the body used for motor programming.

Marino, B., Stucchi, N., Nava, E., Haggard, P., Maravita, A. (2010). Distorting the visual size of the hand affects hand pre-shaping during grasping. EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH, 202(2), 499-505 [10.1007/s00221-009-2143-4].

Distorting the visual size of the hand affects hand pre-shaping during grasping

MARINO, BARBARA;STUCCHI, NATALE ADOLFO;NAVA, ELENA HAE KYUNG;MARAVITA, ANGELO
2010

Abstract

Vision of the body is known to affect somatosensory perception (e.g. proprioception or tactile discrimination). However, it is unknown whether visual information about one's own body size can influence bodily action. We tested this by measuring the maximum grip aperture (MGA) parameter of grasping while eight subjects viewed a real size, enlarged or shrunken image of their hand reaching to grasp a cylinder. In the enlarged view condition, the MGA decreased relative to real size view, as if the grasping movement was actually executed with a physically larger hand, thus requiring a smaller grip aperture to grasp the cylinder. Interestingly, MGA remained smaller even after visual feedback was removed. In contrast, no effect was found for the reduced view condition. This asymmetry may reflect the fact that enlargement of body parts is experienced more frequently than shrinkage, notably during normal growth. In conclusion, vision of the body can significantly and persistently affect the internal model of the body used for motor programming.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Touch, vision, grasping, motion capture
English
2010
202
2
499
505
none
Marino, B., Stucchi, N., Nava, E., Haggard, P., Maravita, A. (2010). Distorting the visual size of the hand affects hand pre-shaping during grasping. EXPERIMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH, 202(2), 499-505 [10.1007/s00221-009-2143-4].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/9473
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