Action observation for the prediction of outcomes and learning of motor skills

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When we watch others move, how much of our understanding of their behaviour comes about from our own visual-motor experiences? How are we able to learn from watching others perform novel actions? What visual information underpins any motor-system activation during action observation and in turn, how is the processing of this information influenced by our own experiences and potentially our ability to covertly re-enact or simulate what we see? These general questions underpin this research proposal. The idea that when we watch other's acting, we too run through the action at a covert level, is an idea that has received significant attention and empirical support. This so called `simulation' hypothesis has, however, been little explored in a learning context. Moreover, for many motor skills, such as playing sports or performing surgery, where anticipatory decisions are required, questions remain about the processes underpinning these decisions and the perceptual cues that drive or are driven by these. I plan to investigate action observation processes, as they pertain to learning and the prediction of other's action outcomes. Part A of my proposal is based on the use of dual-task methods to probe motor system engagement during action-prediction. I will study how action simulation is influenced by (or influences) visual cue pick-up. Through manipulations to the type of training (throwing darts to targets on the floor or wall, or with a weight), I will determine conditions which promote simulation, how general purpose motor-representations are, and how flexible people are in engaging their motor system. One curious possibility is that one's own motor system is updated (detrimentally) when making predictions about another's action. In Part B, I will use an adaptation protocol to study conditions which promote short- and long-term adaptation from observation. Through manipulations to the scheduling of observation I will study when and how observation impacts later motor performance with respect to (implicit) updating of motor plans. I will study how processes related to memory consolidation are affected by action-observation during the retention interval, using a relatively novel technique (peripheral nerve stimulation). This program of research will add to our basic understanding of how our visual-motor experiences impact processes of action-observation, specifically with respect to potential simulation of another's actions and the conditions which govern this. This knowledge will impact our understanding of how we acquire motor skills, how we intentionally and unintentionally `learn' from watching and how predictive decisions are made. This could have significant implications for how we teach and assess skills and how our current actions could potentially interfere with our ability to correctly assess another's behaviour.