TY - JOUR A1 - Parkinson, Jim A1 - Springer, Anne A1 - Prinz, Wolfgang T1 - Can you see me in the snow? - action simulation aids the detection of visually degraded human motion JF - The quarterly journal of experimental psychology N2 - Using a novel paradigm, we demonstrate that action simulation can directly facilitate ongoing perception of people's movements. Point-light actors (PLAs) representing common human motions were shown embedded in a visual noise reminiscent of "TV snow". At first, the PLAs were perceived clearly, then occluded from view for a short duration, during which it was hypothesized that a real-time action simulation was generated tracking the motion's course. The PLA then reappeared in motion at variable visibility against the noise, whilst detection thresholds for the reappearance were measured. In the crucial manipulation, the test motion was either temporally congruent with the motion as it would have continued during occlusion, and thus temporally matching the simulation, or temporally incongruent. Detection thresholds were lower for congruent than for incongruent reappearing motions, suggesting that reappearing motion that temporally matched the internal action simulation was more likely to be detected. KW - Biological motion KW - Action-perception KW - Real-time prediction KW - Point-light action Y1 - 2011 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2011.594895 SN - 1747-0218 VL - 64 IS - 8 SP - 1463 EP - 1472 PB - Wiley CY - Hove ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Parkinson, Jim A1 - Springer, Anne A1 - Prinz, Wolfgang T1 - Before, during and after you disappear: aspects of timing and dynamic updating of the real-time action simulation of human motions JF - Psychological research : an international journal of perception, attention, memory, and action N2 - The detailed dynamics of action simulation was investigated using the occluder paradigm: a point light actor (PLA) was shown, then briefly occluded from view, during which period action simulation was generated. Following occlusion, the PLA reappeared, either a progression of the motion as it should be post-occlusion or temporally shifted earlier/later. Participants made judgements on whether the reappearing PLA was too early or too late to be a correct continuation (Experiments 1 and 3) or whether it was a veridical continuation or not (Experiment 2). Over three experiments we asked how action simulation is affected by motion information before, during and after occlusion. Reducing motion presented before occlusion retained the accuracy of action simulation judgements. Presenting 4 frames (67 ms) of PLA motion during the occluder duration dynamically updates or altogether regenerates the action simulation. Reducing the duration of the test motion after the occluder decreases judgement precision, which we interpret as a limitation in the process of postdictive motion judgments. Overall, this is further evidence that the action simulation process is remarkably adapted to making human motion predictions. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-012-0422-3 SN - 0340-0727 VL - 76 IS - 4 SP - 421 EP - 433 PB - Springer CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Stadler, Waltraud A1 - Springer, Anne A1 - Parkinson, Jim A1 - Prinz, Wolfgang T1 - Movement kinematics affect action prediction comparing human to non-human point-light actions JF - Psychological research : an international journal of perception, attention, memory, and action N2 - The influence of movement kinematics on the accuracy of predicting the time course of another individual's actions was studied. A human point-light shape was animated with human movement (natural condition) and with artificial movement that was more uniform regarding velocity profiles and trajectories (artificial condition). During brief occlusions, the participants predicted the actions in order to judge after occlusion whether the actions were continued coherently in time or shifted to an earlier or later frame. Error rates and reaction times were increased in the artificial compared to the natural condition. The findings suggest a perceptual advantage for movement with a human velocity profile, corresponding to the notion of a close interaction between observed and executed movement. The results are discussed in the framework of the simulation account and alternative interpretations are provided on the basis of correlations between the velocity profiles of natural and artificial movements with prediction performance. Y1 - 2012 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00426-012-0431-2 SN - 0340-0727 VL - 76 IS - 4 SP - 395 EP - 406 PB - Springer CY - Heidelberg ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Springer, Anne A1 - Parkinson, Jim A1 - Prinz, Wolfgang T1 - Action simulation: time course and representational mechanisms JF - FRONTIERS IN PSYCHOLOGY N2 - The notion of action simulation refers to the ability to re-enact foreign actions (i.e., actions observed in other individuals). Simulating others’ actions implies a mirroring of their activities, based on one’s own sensonmotor competencies. Here, we discuss theoretical and experimental approaches to action simulation and the study of its representational underpinnings. One focus of our discussion is on the timing of internal simulation and its relation to the timing of external action, and a paradigm that requires participants to predict the future course of actions that are temporarily occluded from view. We address transitions between perceptual mechanisms (referring to action representation before and after occlusion) and simulation mechanisms (referring to action representation during occlusion). Findings suggest that action simulation runs in real-time; acting on newly created action representations rather than relying on continuous visual extrapolations. A further focus of our discussion pertains to the functional characteristics of the mechanisms involved in predicting other people’s actions. We propose that two processes are engaged, dynamic updating and static matching, which may draw on both semantic and motor information. In a concluding section, we discuss these findings in the context of broader theoretical issues related to action and event representation, arguing that a detailed functional analysis of action simulation in cognitive, neural, and computational terms may help to further advance our understanding of action cognition and motor control. KW - action simulation KW - internal forward models KW - occlusion KW - point-light action KW - static matching KW - predictive coding Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00387 SN - 1664-1078 VL - 4 PB - FRONTIERS RESEARCH FOUNDATION CY - LAUSANNE ER -