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Seeing objects usually grasped with a power or a precision grip (e.g., an apple vs. a cherry) potentiates power-grip and precision-grip responses, respectively. An embodied account suggests that this effect occur because the visual representations of objects would integrate some motor processes. A new account, named the size-coding account, argues that this effect could be rather due to an overlapping of size codes used to represent both manipulable objects and response options. In this paper, we investigate whether this potentiation effect could be merely due to a low-level visual feature that favor a size-coding of stimuli: the visual size in which objects are presented on screen. Accordingly, we conducted two experiments in which we presented highly elementary and non-graspable stimuli (i.e., ink spots) either large or small rather than graspable objects. Our results showed that the mere visual size automatically potentiates power- and precision-grip responses that is in line with the size-coding account of the potentiation effect of grasping behaviors. Moreover, these results appeal to improve the methodological control of the size of stimuli especially when researchers try to support the embodied account . Keywords. Visual object representations; Embodied Cognition; Manipulable Objects; Grasping; Visual size; Size coding account

Seeing large (e.g., pears) or small objects (e.g., cherries) potentiates power and precision grip, respectively. According to the motor simulation account, this potentiation effect reflects an automatic access to object representation, including the grip usually associated with the object. Alternatively, this effect might be due to an overlap between magnitude codes used to represent both manipulable objects and response outcomes. In Experiment 1, participants saw objects usually grasped with a power or precision grip and had to mimic these gestures on a specific device. In the corresponding and non-corresponding conditions, each response generated low-pitch or high-pitch tone (i.e., a large vs. small perceptual outcome, respectively). In line with the ideomotor theories according to which voluntary actions are carried out due to the anticipation of their outcomes, each response generated a low-pitch or high-pitch tone. Response times were shorter when the object and the response were compatible than when they were not, independently of the magnitude of the artificial post-response outcome. Our results suggest that the potentiation effect could, under some circumstances, be immune to post-responses outcomes, which could be consistent with both motor simulation and magnitude coding accounts. To further disentangle these explanations, we conducted a second experiment with the device set horizontally to eliminate the grasping component of the responses. As in Heurley et al. (2020), the results revealed a potentiation-like effect, suggesting that the underlying process in our experiments could be better explained by the magnitude coding account.

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-qjp-10.1177_17470218231155836 for The visual size is enough to automatically induce the potentiation of grasping behaviours by Loïc P Heurley, Mohamed Halim Harrak, Ronan Guerineau, Laurent P Ferrier and Nicolas Morgado in Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology

Our goal is to better understand the coding of responses in the case of Stimulus-Response Compatibility effects. We especially want to disentangle between two possibilities: (i) response coding could be based on the spatial features of the switch (e.g., its location, its size) or (ii) because of the spatial features of the action goal. For this purpose, we will use the size-based SRC effects recently reported by Heurley et al. (2020).

The goal of this experimental work is to better understand the number-based potentiation effect originally reported by Moretto and Di Pellegrino (2008).

Actes des 23èmes Journées de Psychologie Différentielle; International audience; Cette étude vise à analyser les relations entre les émotions (état et trait) et l'action dans le cadre de la production d'un mouvement volontaire de l'ensemble du corps : l'initiation du simple pas. La tâche des participants (n = 24, âge : 18-31 ans) consistait à initier le simple pas pendant la présentation de visages émotionnels au cours de deux conditions expérimentales réalisées de façon aléatoire. Dans la condition explicite, les participants devaient avancer si le visage présenté exprimait la peur, la colère et la joie ou rester immobiles si le visage était « neutre ». Dans la condition implicite, la moitié des participants avait pour consigne d'avancer si le visage présenté était une femme ou de rester immobile s'il s'agissait d'un homme (en ignorant l'émotion du visage). La consigne inverse était donnée à l'autre moitié des participants. A la fin de l'expérimentation, le trait de colère des participants ainsi que l'intensité perçue des visages émotionnels étaient mesurés. Les analyses réalisées à partir d'un modèle mixte à quatre effets fixes (condition, émotion, trait de colère, intensité) et deux effets aléatoires (celui des participants et celui des visages sur l'intercept) mettent en avant deux principaux résultats. Premièrement, alors qu'aucune différence de performance (i.e. un temps nécessaire pour atteindre le pic de vitesse plus court, tV) n'est observée dans les conditions explicite et implicite face aux visages exprimant la peur, une meilleure performance du mouvement est constatée face aux visages exprimant la colère et la joie dans la condition implicite comparativement à la condition explicite. Deuxièmement, une réduction du tV est observée avec l'augmentation du trait de colère pour les stimuli d'intensités perçues comme faible et moyenne. Ces résultats suggèrent un traitement automatique des visages exprimant la peur qui n'interfère pas sur l'initiation du simple pas et un lien entre le trait de colère des individus et les comportements d'approche.

Color is a critical part of objects representation as well as critical cue for re cognizing objects. However, it is less clear how people represent color in memory. The present study aimed at investigating this issue . We designed a procedure based on short - term sensory memory load procedure mixed with a color - priming paradigm. Participants learn ed three visual stimuli (either non - words – lexical load condition - or visual - shapes – visual - shape load condition). Then, they perform ed a color discrimination task on colored patch (e.g., a yellow patch) . Each target was preceded by a color - related concept word either congruent (e.g., word “banana”) or not (e.g., word “lettuce”). Finally, they performed a recognition task either on non - words or on visual - shapes depending on the memory load condition) . We showe d that color - priming effect was selectively disrupted in visual - shape load condition. We interpreted this finding as a n evidence that automatic modal simulations occur during access to the meaning of color – related concept.

Article disponible en ligne à l'adresse : http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ijop.12210/full; International audience; Embodied approaches of cognition argue that retrieval involves the re-enactment of both sensory and motor components of the desired remembering. In this study, we investigated the effect of motor action performed to produce the response in a recognition task when this action is compatible with the affordance of the objects that have to be recognised. In our experiment, participants were first asked to learn a list of words referring to graspable objects, and then told to make recognition judgements on pictures. The pictures represented objects where the graspable part was either pointing to the same or to the opposite side of the “Yes” response key. Results show a robust effect of compatibility between objects affordance and response hand. Moreover, this compatibility improves participants' ability of discrimination, suggesting that motor components are relevant cue for memory judgement at the stage of retrieval in a recognition task. More broadly, our data highlight that memory judgements are a function of motor components mappings at the stage of retrieval.

International audience

Sensorimotor models of cognition consider knowledge as neural patterns distributed over the entire brain, including the sensory areas. Various studies have confirmed that access to knowledge associated with a color (e.g., banana) recruits a neural network similar to that involved in color perception. Consequently, it is possible that the use of common structures involves an interaction between access to knowledge and perception of color. To test this hypothesis, the procedure used was to quickly present a prime involving a simulation of the color (e.g., A black-and-white line drawing of a banana) followed by a congruent target color (yellow) or not (green) on which participants were asked to perform a perceptual processing (i.e., color discrimination task). We expected to observe a perceptual priming of color. We conducted seven experiments in which we varied different factors such as the type of primes (pictures, words), the SOA or the type of perceptual tasks. The results show that simulation can influence color perception at a perceptual level, as long as the task on the target requires only perceptual processing and the congruency link between prime and target is handled at the level of specific hues. Otherwise, the priming obtained seems to be of a lexical nature. We discuss the implications of these results for (i) the knowledge/perception interactions, (ii) the nature of the processes involved in color perception and (iii) in the mnemonic representation of colors., Les modèles sensorimoteurs de la cognition envisagent les connaissances comme des patterns neuronaux distribués sur l’ensemble du cerveau incluant les aires sensorielles. Différents travaux ont confirmé que l’accès à des connaissances associées à une couleur (e.g., banane) recrute un réseau neuronal similaire à celui impliqué dans la perception des couleurs. En conséquence, il est possible que l’utilisation de structures communes implique une interaction entre l’accès aux connaissances et la perception de la couleur. Pour mettre à l’épreuve cette hypothèse, la procédure utilisée consistait à présenter rapidement une amorce impliquant une simulation de la couleur (e.g., dessin d’une banane en noir et blanc) suivie d’une cible de couleur congruente (jaune) ou non (vert) sur laquelle les participants devaient réaliser un traitement perceptif (i.e., tâche de discrimination chromatique). Nous nous attendions à observer un amorçage perceptif de la couleur. Nous avons réalisé sept expériences au cours desquelles nous avons fait varier différents facteurs comme le type d’amorces (images, mots), le SOA ou encore le type de tâches perceptives. Les résultats obtenus montrent que la simulation de la couleur peut influencer la perception à un niveau perceptif, du moment que la tâche sur les cibles nécessite uniquement un traitement perceptif et que le lien de congruence amorce/cible est manipulé au niveau précis des teintes. Sinon, l’amorçage obtenu semble être de nature lexicale. Nous discutons de l’implication de ces résultats pour (i) l’interaction connaissance/perception, (ii) la nature des processus impliqués dans la perception des couleurs et (iii) dans la représentation mnésique des couleurs.