What is matched in direct matching? Intention attribution modulates motor priming
Abstract
Converging evidence has shown that action observation and execution are tightly linked. The observation of an action directly activates an equivalent internal motor representation in the observer (direct matching). However, whether direct matching is primarily driven by basic perceptual features of the observed movement or is influenced by more abstract interpretative processes is an open question. A series of behavioral experiments tested whether direct matching, as measured by motor priming, can be modulated by inferred action goals and attributed intentions. Experiment 1 tested whether observing an unsuccessful attempt to execute an action is sufficient to produce a motor-priming effect. Experiment 2 tested alternative perceptual explanations for the observed findings. Experiment 3 investigated whether the attribution of intention modulates motor priming by comparing motor-priming effects during observation of intended and unintended movements. Experiment 4 tested whether participants' interpretation of the movement as triggered by an external source or the actor's intention modulates the motor-priming effect by a pure instructional manipulation. Our findings support a model in which direct matching can be top-down modulated by the observer's interpretation of the observed movement as intended or not.
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Recent findings show that imitative compatibility is modulated by the inferred goals and intentions associated with perceived movements.
“One last source of evidence suggesting a dissociation between imitative and spatial compatibility concerns recent findings showing that imitative compatibility is modulated by the inferred goals and intentions associated with perceived movements (e.g., Liepelt, Cramon, & Brass, 2008).”
From Is automatic imitation a specialized form of stimulus–response compatibility? Dissociating imitative and spatial compatibilities (2012) · cites this paper as Liepelt, Cramon, & Brass, 2008
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“Although direct matching is assumed to be a simple automatic mechanism, it was thought to play a crucial role in social cognition (Decety & Jackson, 2004), imitation learning (Rizzolatti & Craighero, 2004) and action understanding (Iacoboni et al, 2005).”
BackgroundCortical mechanisms of human imitation
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“Although direct matching is assumed to be a simple automatic mechanism, it was thought to play a crucial role in social cognition (Decety & Jackson, 2004), imitation learning (Rizzolatti & Craighero, 2004) and action understanding (Iacoboni et al, 2005).”
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- Authors
- Liepelt, R., Cramon, D. Y. V., & Brass, M.
- Affiliations
- Max Planck Society (DE)
- Venue
- Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance
- Published
- 2008
- Volume
- 34
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 578-591
- ISSN
- 0096-1523 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1277
- OpenAlex
- W2064010584
- Cited by
- 139
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 18.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Experimental Psychology Human Perception & Performance (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) (submittedVersion)
- Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (submittedVersion)
- Max Planck Digital Library (submittedVersion)
- MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Sponsor name not included (EDICI-12929)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Free Will and Agency
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
- Keywords
- direct matching, action observation, motor priming, intention attribution, action goals, top-down modulation, action execution
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Facial Expression, Female, Gestures, Humans, Male, Psychomotor Performance, Reaction Time, Visual Perception, Intention
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