Situational Determinants of Hand-Proximity Effects

Abstract

Recent studies have demonstrated altered visual processing of stimuli in the proximal region of the hand. It has been challenging to characterize the range and nature of these processing differences. In our attempt to deconstruct the factors giving rise to the Hand-Proximity Effects (HPEs), we manipulated the organization of items in a visual search display. In two experiments, we observed the absence of HPE. Specifically, in Experiment 1, we presented the search display in only one half of the monitor (split diagonally), which could be either near or far from the hand placed on the corner of the monitor. The results of a Bayesian analysis showed that the search efficiency was not significantly different for neither 'near' nor 'far' condition when compared with the baseline condition in which the hand rested on the lap. In Experiment 2, the search display was arranged horizontally across the monitor. A Bayesian analysis showed that RTs did not vary depending on the proximity of the target to the hand as well as the baseline (lap) condition. The present results characterize features of the HPE that have not been reported previously and are in line with recent reports of the failure to replicate HPE under various circumstances.

Peri-hand space: A helping hand for faster object recognition in children.

“…In conclusion, the results of the present study are in agreement with previous findings that peri-hand space effects are strongly influenced by numerous contextual factors as well as the methods used to quantify them (e.g., Andringa et al, 2018; Chan et al, 2013; Dosso & Kingstone, 2018; Perry et al, 2015; Thomas & Sunny 2019). The present findings extend previous research by revealing that the age of the participant may also contribute to the magnitude of peri-hand space effects, which may be more prominent in childhood.…”