Enriched sensory feedback delivered during a voluntary action boosts subjective time compression.

Introduction: The subjective experience of time can be influenced by various factors including voluntary actions. In our previous study, we found that the subjective time experience of an action outcome can be compressed when an individual performs a continuous action compared to a single action, suggesting that the sense of agency (SoA), the feeling of control over one's own action outcomes, contributes to the subjective time compression. We hypothesized that enhancing SoA by providing sensory feedback to participants would further compress the subjective time experience.

Quantification of high and low sEMG spectral components during sustained isometric contraction.

Superficial Electromyography (sEMG) spectrum contains aggregated information from several underlying physiological processes. Due to technological limitations, the isolation of these processes is challenging, and therefore, the interpretation of changes in muscle activity frequency is still controversial. Recent studies showed that the spectrum of sEMG signals recorded from isotonic and short-term isometric contractions can be decomposed into independent components whose spectral features recall those of motor unit action potentials.

Forearm muscle activity estimation based on anatomical structure of muscles.

Estimation of muscle activity using surface electromyography (sEMG) is an important non-invasive method that can lead to a deeper understanding of motor-control strategies in humans. Measurement using multiple active electrodes is necessary to estimate not only surface muscle activity but also deep muscle activity in dynamic motion. In this paper, we propose a method for estimating muscle activity of dynamic motions based on anatomical knowledge of muscle structures.

Wetting properties of fresh urban soot particles: Evaluation based on critical supersaturation and observation of surface trace materials.

Soot particles strongly absorb solar radiation and contribute to global warming. Also, wetting properties of soot at emission can affect its lifetime. We investigated surface conditions related to wetting and hydrophobic properties of fresh soot using data from measurements taken in Tokyo.

Model-Based Prediction of Operation Consequences When Driving a Car to Compensate for a Partially Restricted Visual Field by A-Pillars.

The partial restriction of a driver's visual field by the physical structure of the car (e.g., the A-pillar) can lead to unsafe situations where steering performance is degraded.

Neuroplastic Reorganization Induced by Sensory Augmentation for Self-Localization During Locomotion.

Sensory skills can be augmented through training and technological support. This process is underpinned by neural plasticity in the brain. We previously demonstrated that auditory-based sensory augmentation can be used to assist self-localization during locomotion.

Subjective time compression induced by continuous action.

Increasing evidence indicates that voluntary actions can modulate the subjective time experience of its outcomes to optimize dynamic interaction with the external environment. In the present study, using a temporal reproduction task where participants reproduced the duration of an auditory stimulus to which they were previously exposed by performing different types of voluntary action, we examined how the subjective time experience of action outcomes changed with voluntary action types. Two experiments revealed that the subjective time experience of action outcomes was compressed, compared with physical time, if the action was performed continuously (Experiment 1), possibly enhancing the experience of controlling the action outcome, or if the action was added an extra task-unrelated continuous action (Experiment 2), possibly reflecting different underlying mechanisms from subjective time compression induced by the task-related continuous action.

Influence of levels of automation on the sense of agency during continuous action.

Recent advances in automation technology can lead to unsafe situations where operators lose their sense of agency over the automated equipment. On the other hand, increasing evidence has shown that providing operators with opportunities of continuous operation and helping them improve their performance on tasks through automation can boost their sense of agency. However, it is challenging to ensure that the operator maintains a sense of agency when working with a fully automated tool that removes him/her from the control loop.

A Novel Approach to Sensorimotor Skill Acquisition Utilizing Sensory Substitution: A Driving Simulation Study.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the potential of sensory substitution/augmentation (SS/A) techniques for driver assistance systems in a simulated driving environment. Using a group-comparison design, we examined lane-keeping skill acquisition in a driving simulator that can provide information regarding vehicle lateral position by changing the binaural balance of auditory white noise delivered to the driver. Consequently, lane-keeping accuracy was significantly degraded when the lower visual scene (proximal part of the road) was occluded, suggesting it conveyed critical visual information necessary for lane keeping.

Cerebellar activation associated with model-based estimation of tool-use consequences.

Background: Dexterous tool use is considered to be underpinned by model-based control relying on acquired internal models of tools. In particular, this is the case in situations where available sensory feedback regarding the consequences of tool use is restricted. In the present study, we conducted an fMRI study to identify cerebellar involvement in model-based estimation of tool-use consequences using tracking tasks with different levels of visual feedback.

Egocentric Direction and Position Perceptions are Dissociable Based on Only Static Lane Edge Information.

When observers perceive several objects in a space, at the same time, they should effectively perceive their own position as a viewpoint. However, little is known about observers' percepts of their own spatial location based on the visual scene information viewed from them. Previous studies indicate that two distinct visual spatial processes exist in the locomotion situation: the egocentric position perception and egocentric direction perception.

Wobbling appearance of a face induced by doubled parts.

An illusion produced by duplicating facial parts, which can cause an unstable feeling for many observers, was investigated. We examined factors that contribute to the unstable feeling. The results suggest that this illusion is specific to face perception, and the unstable feeling may be generated by difficulty in keeping attention directed to either of the duplicated facial parts.

Influence of make-up on facial recognition.

Make-up may enhance or disguise facial characteristics. The influence of wearing make-up on facial recognition could be of two kinds: (i) when women do not wear make-up and then are seen with make-up, and (ii) when women wear make-up and then are seen without make-up. A study is reported which shows that light make-up makes it easier to recognise a face, and heavy make-up makes it more difficult.