How Our Brain Helps Us See What We Can Reach
Author Information
Author(s): Yann Coello, Angela Bartolo, Bastien Amiri, Hervé Devanne, Elise Houdayer, Philippe Derambure
Primary Institution: Université de Lille–Nord de France
Hypothesis
The study aims to test the role of motor representations in the visual perception of peripersonal space.
Conclusion
The study provides evidence that brain motor areas contribute to the visual determination of what is reachable.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants showed a facilitation effect in reaction times across all tasks when TMS was applied.
- The effect of TMS on reaction times was dependent on the timing of the stimulation.
- Motor cortex stimulation specifically reduced the facilitation effect for targets near the boundary of reachability.
Takeaway
This study shows that our brain uses information about how we can move to help us decide if we can reach something we see.
Methodology
Seven participants underwent TMS while performing tasks to judge reachability and make right-left decisions.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small and homogeneous sample of participants.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and focused only on right-handed individuals.
Participant Demographics
Seven right-handed volunteers, mean age 25.4 years, with normal or corrected-to-normal visual acuity.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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