Can effects of social intentions on reach-to-grasp kinematics be modified by how I feel ?
Résumé
OBJECTIVE : A novel line of research suggest that social context shapes action kinematics (Becchio et al., 2010 ; Quesque et al., 2015), evidencing that in the context of a social interaction, flexible online adjustments take place between partners. Here, we investigated to what extent these kinematics adjustement could be mediated by affective component. Affective sounds were used to induce emotionnal states in adult participants who was performing a reach-to-grasp task.
PARTICIPANTS & METHODS
Movements of ten participants were recorded using 6 Oqus infrared cameras (Qualisys). The participants were instructed to reach toward and grasp a dowel, and then place it as fast as possible to a hand which was either the real hand of the partner (Social condition) or a plastered replica of a hand. In this last condition, the partner could be present but in far space (Passive Observer condition) or not present at all (Individual condition). During each condition, a sound known to induce positive, neutral or negative emotions was broadcasted. In addition to motion capture, psychopathological and emotional scales were used.
RESULTS
Statistical analyses replicated previous results increased duration of movement when performed in the social context. However, no significant interaction effect between kinematics measures and emotional conditions could be found; probably explained by an inappropriate emotional induction as shown by the results in the emotional scales.
CONCLUSION
Our results replicated previous findings underlying the importance of taking into account the influence of social context in current models of motor control. However, it is still unclear whether affectives states of the agent might also modulate sensorimotor processes and how it would interact with the influence of the social context.