Effect of visuomotor calibration and uncertainty on the perception of peripersonal space

Abstract

Target selection for action depends not only on the egocentric location of objects estimated from retinal and extraretinal variables, but also on the assessment of current action possibilities. In the present study, we investigated the effect of altering sensorimotor anticipation processes on subsequent perceptual estimates of reachability. To do so, we conducted two experiments in which we changed the relation between visual distance and movement amplitude. Experiment 1 showed that iterative visuomotor adaptation to distorted visual feedback (in steps of ±15 mm, up to a total adaptation of ±75 mm) led to a congruent variation of perceived reachable space, although the first introduction of the shifted visual feedback produced a reduction of perceived reachable space whatever the direction of the feedback shift. Experiment 2 showed that increasing uncertainty about visuomotor performances, by providing a visual feedback randomly shifted in depth (±7.5 mm), produced the same reduction of perceived reachable space in the absence of visuomotor adaptation. Taken together, these data suggest that the visual perception of reachable space depends on a motor-related perceptual system, which is affected by both visuomotor recalibration and reliability of the visuomotor system.

The perception of peripersonal space in right and left brain damage hemiplegic patients

“…To this end, a motor imagery and a reachability judgment task was employed. The latter task is known to depend on how individuals represent their peripersonal space (Coello and Delevoye-Turrell, 2007; Bourgeois and Coello, 2012). In the reachability judgment task, individuals are usually asked to judge whether a visual stimulus presented along the mid-sagittal axis at different distances is reachable or not according to their own action capabilities.…”

Perceptual and behavioral adjustments after action inhibition

“…That is, breaking an ongoing movement could per se decrease the perceived target distance. For instance, distance perception can be modified when the uncertainty (i.e., noise) within the sensorimotor system increases (Bourgeois & Coello, 2012). Accordingly, the observed decrease of distance judgments for restricted movements might result from increased sensorimotor variability due to the movement interruption, rather than from processes associated with performance adjustments, as we have suggested.…”

Detecting peripersonal space: The promising role of ultrasonics

“…To this end, several sensory‐motor integration processes concerning the “body representations” (including the position and dimension of body parts) and the space around the body (i.e., the peripersonal space and PPS) have to occur (De Vignemont, 2010). PPS representation is made of multisensory, body part‐centered reference frames, so to elaborate automated or finalized motor responses to the surrounding stimuli (Bourgeois & Coello, 2012). Wide frontoparietal networks allow integrating multisensory information within the PPS in monkeys and humans (Bremmer et al., 2001; Di Pellegrino, Ladavas, & Farné, 1997; Graziano, Taylor, & Moore, 2002; Làdavas & Serino, 2008; Makin, Holmes, & Zohary, 2007; di Pellegrino & Làdavas, 2015; Rizzolatti, Fadiga, Fogassi, & Gallese, 1997; Rizzolatti, Scandolara, Matelli, & Gentilucci, 1981; Sambo & Forster, 2009; Spence, Pavani, Maravita, & Holmes, 2008).…”

“…Wide frontoparietal networks allow integrating multisensory information within the PPS in monkeys and humans (Bremmer et al., 2001; Di Pellegrino, Ladavas, & Farné, 1997; Graziano, Taylor, & Moore, 2002; Làdavas & Serino, 2008; Makin, Holmes, & Zohary, 2007; di Pellegrino & Làdavas, 2015; Rizzolatti, Fadiga, Fogassi, & Gallese, 1997; Rizzolatti, Scandolara, Matelli, & Gentilucci, 1981; Sambo & Forster, 2009; Spence, Pavani, Maravita, & Holmes, 2008). Such a PPS representation has also a motor function, that is, it links together the instantaneous multisensory representation of PPS with the pertinent potential motor acts (Bourgeois & Coello, 2012; Cooke, Taylor, Moore, & Graziano, 2003; di Pellegrino & Làdavas, 2015). …”