The spatial coding of responses can depend on the spatial features of action goals.

In this work, we aimed to explore whether the spatial coding of responses is influenced by the spatial features of the action goal and whether this coding extends beyond the spatial features of the response keys to include the spatial features of the tools used. Therefore, we employed a size-based Simon effect in which participants were presented with either a large or small object, appearing in blue or orange, during each trial. Depending on the color, participants had to press a switch using a stick with either a large or small component.

Manipulable objects can potentiate pointing and unusual grasping besides habitual grasping behaviors.

People are faster to perform a precision grip when they see a cherry (i.e., a small graspable object) than to perform a power grip, and the reverse holds true when they see an apple (i.

The visual size is enough to automatically induce the potentiation of grasping behaviours.

Seeing objects usually grasped with a power or a precision grip (e.g., an apple vs a cherry) potentiates power- and precision-grip responses, respectively.

The visual size of graspable objects is needed to induce the potentiation of grasping behaviors even with verbal stimuli.

Merely perceiving objects usually grasped with a power or a precision grip (e.g., an apple vs.

Can the early visual processing of others' actions be related to social power and dominance?

Although goals often drive action understanding, this ability is also prone to important variability among individuals, which may have its origin in individual social characteristics. The present study aimed at evaluating the relationship between the tendency to prioritize goal information over grip information during early visual processing of action and several social dimensions. Visual processing of grip and goal information during action recognition was evaluated in 64 participants using the priming protocol developed by Decroix and Kalénine (Exp Brain Res 236(8):2411-2426, 2018).

Anticipating the magnitude of response outcomes can induce a potentiation effect for manipulable objects.

Merely seeing large objects (e.g., apples) potentiates power grip whereas seeing small objects (e.

Size coding of alternative responses is sufficient to induce a potentiation effect with manipulable objects.

The mere perception of manipulable objects usually grasped with a power-grip (e.g., an apple) or a precision-grip (e.

Action Effects on Visual Perception of Distances: A Multilevel Bayesian Meta-Analysis.

Previous studies have suggested that action constraints influence visual perception of distances. For instance, the greater the effort to cover a distance, the longer people perceive this distance to be. The present multilevel Bayesian meta-analysis (37 studies with 1,035 total participants) supported the existence of a small action-constraint effect on distance estimation, Hedges's = 0.

Motor simulation in tool-use effect on distance estimation: A replication of Witt and Proffitt (2008).

Witt and Proffit (Human Perception and Performance, 34 (6), 1479-1492, 2008) hypothesized that when people intend to reach a target, they run a motor simulation allowing them to anticipate potential reaching constraints and outcomes, which in turn affects spatial perception. They reported that participants estimated targets to be closer to them when they intended to use a reach-extending tool, but only when they did not perform a concurrent motor task. The authors concluded that the concurrent motor task prevented the simulation of tool-use and its effect on perception.

Pre-Calibrated Visuo-Haptic Co-Location Improves Execution in Virtual Environments.

A common approach to visio-haptic human-machine interfaces adopts a simpler design by shifting grounded force feedback away from the virtual scene. The alternative design favors intuitiveness by displaying visual and grounded force feedback at the same location (i.e.

The Action Constraints of an Object Increase Distance Estimation in Extrapersonal Space.

This study investigated the role of action constraints related to an object as regards allocentric distance estimation in extrapersonal space. In two experiments conducted in both real and virtual environments, participants intending to push a trolley had to estimate its distance from a target situated in front of them. The trolley was either empty (i.

When combined spatial polarities activated through spatio-temporal asynchrony lead to better mathematical reasoning for addition.

Several recent studies have supported the existence of a link between spatial processing and some aspects of mathematical reasoning, including mental arithmetic. Some of these studies suggested that people are more accurate when performing arithmetic operations for which the operands appeared in the lower-left and upper-right spaces than in the upper-left and lower-right spaces. However, this cross-over Horizontality × Verticality interaction effect on arithmetic accuracy was only apparent for multiplication, not for addition.

Getting a tool gives wings: overestimation of tool-related benefits in a motor imagery task and a decision task.

Two experiments examine whether people overestimate the benefits provided by tool use in motor tasks. Participants had to move different quantities of objects by hand (two at a time) or with a tool (four at a time). The tool was not within reach so participants had to get it before moving the objects.

Within reach but not so reachable: obstacles matter in visual perception of distances.

A large number of studies have shown that effort influences the visual perception of reaching distance. These studies have mainly focused on the effects of reach-relevant properties of the body and of the objects that people intend to reach. However, any influence of the reach-relevant properties of the surrounding environment remains still speculative.

Tool use and perceived distance: when unreachable becomes spontaneously reachable.

An interesting issue about human tool use is whether people spontaneously and implicitly intend to use an available tool to perform an action that would be impossible without it. Recent research indicates that targets presented just beyond arm's reach are perceived closer when people intend to reach them with a tool rather than without it. An intriguing issue is whether this effect also occurs when people are not explicitly instructed to use a tool to reach targets.

Close to me? The influence of affective closeness on space perception.

Recent data show that psychosocial factors affect visual perception. We tested this hypothesis by investigating the relationship between affective closeness and the perception of apertures between two people. People feel discomfort when they are near someone they are not affectively close to.