Neurophysiological correlates of perception–action binding in the somatosensory system

Abstract

Action control requires precisely and flexibly linking sensory input and motor output. This is true for both, visuo-motor and somatosensory-motor integration. However, while perception–action integration has been extensively investigated for the visual modality, data on how somatosensory and action-related information is associated are scarce. We use the Theory of Event Coding (TEC) as a framework to investigate perception–action integration in the somatosensory-motor domain. Based on studies examining the neural mechanisms underlying stimulus–response binding in the visuo-motor domain, the current study investigates binding mechanisms in the somatosensory-motor domain using EEG signal decomposition and source localization analyses. The present study clearly demonstrates binding between somatosensory stimulus and response features. Importantly, repetition benefits but no repetition costs are evident in the somatosensory modality, which differs from findings in the visual domain. EEG signal decomposition indicates that response selection mechanisms, rather than stimulus-related processes, account for the behavioral binding effects. This modulation is associated with activation differences in the left superior parietal cortex (BA 7), an important relay of sensorimotor integration.

What is left after an error? Towards a comprehensive account of goal-based binding and retrieval

“…This result strongly suggests that the erroneous response remains in an activated state and thus continues to be accessible for future action planning. This continued activation of the erroneous response might prepare the ground for binding this response (e.g., its tactile action effects; Friedrich et al, 2020;Pfister, 2019) to any additional responsecontingent changes in the agent's environment (Foerster, Moeller, et al, in press).…”

Somatosensory perception–action binding in Tourette syndrome

“…Nonetheless, due to a similar task structure and a common underlying theoretical framework, hypotheses regarding the somatosensory modality are derived from the results in the visual domain. Here, we tested a novel recently established somatosensory-motor task 22 in the context of TEC 21 providing a suitable theoretical framework to investigate alterations in somatosensory-motor binding since it systematically addresses perception–action coupling.…”

“…The factor Group (GTS patient or healthy control) was set as between-subject factor. Based on previous results 22 revealing no effect of the factor Sequence (repetition or alternation of pulse sequence), it was not included in the current analysis. All tests were Greenhouse–Geisser corrected and all post-hoc tests Bonferroni corrected.…”

“…In this respect, the Theory of Event Coding (TEC) 21 constituting a framework systematically addressing perception–action coupling, or binding, considering cognitive processes, appears particularly attractive. Due to the universal conceptualization of TEC, it allows to study sensorimotor integration in different modalities including the somatosensory domain 22 . TEC states the formation of so called “object files” that contain stimulus-related details, and “action files” encompassing features related to a specific response 21 .…”

“…However, considering the importance of somatosensory and sensorimotor peculiarities in the pathophysiology of GTS outlined above, it appears particularly relevant to examine whether the concept of “hyper-binding” in GTS patients supported by findings in the visual domain 33 , 34 also applies to somatosensory-motor integration. To this end, a somatosensory event file binding task introduced recently 22 (for details please refer to “ Materials and methods ” section) was used in the present study.…”