Investigating the Neurophysiological and Cognitive Bases of Action Recognition and the Sense of Agency

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Summary of Proposal ***An important goal of my research program is to understand the brain mechanisms and cognitive processes underlying the perception of other peoples' actions and actions made by the self. Humans often learn by watching the actions of others, but little is known about the role of the motor system in the representation of observed actions over time. The capacity to retain seen actions over time is crucial for learning, e.g., if someone observes a fitness instructor performing an action with a particular piece of equipment, it is useful to form a representation of the action and the object to aid future behaviour. Recently, we found that the motor system plays a causal role in such representation. Work Package 1 in this proposal will provide deeper insights into the role of the primary motor cortex (M1) and the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) in forming and maintaining representations of actions and objects. Specific questions include uncovering the timing at which M1 and rIFG are involved in representing seen actions and objects, and determining which areas of M1 are crucial for action and object recognition. A key human experience is the sense of agency (SOA) over our actions and their outcomes - and understanding the SOA is currently a major focus of research in cognitive neuroscience and experimental psychology. It is very important to understand the SOA, because without it, human experience deteriorates, e.g., when schizophrenic patients experience abnormal control over actions and outcomes, often with disturbing consequences. Despite its importance, there are many unanswered questions about how the SOA arises and what factors affect it. In work package 2 we focus on how the SOA is affected when individuals make rapid adjustments to their planned actions. For example, if a driver plans to stop his/her car but must then suddenly stop earlier than planned because an obstacle blows onto the road, what happens to the SOA? Similarly, when a sniper plans to pull the trigger, but an innocent person walks in front of the target, the sniper must rapidly stop the trigger pull. What happens to the SOA when action cancellation fails? We further ask what role action selection processes play in generating the SOA and how decision time for action affects the SOA. For example, consumers sometimes make slow, choices in the absence of time pressure, but at other times, they make rapid, rushed decisions. What effect does decision time have on the SOA? Our research could, in the future, be useful for understanding consumer (choice) behaviour and feelings of control, and will inform the design of devices to optimize the sense of agency (i.e., control). This information is valuable to companies ranging from smartphone designers to marketing firms and, used strategically, could benefit the Canadian economy. HQP will also be positioned to take on jobs in the knowledge economy thus contributing to Canada's future prosperity.**