Altered visual feedback from an embodied avatar unconsciously influences movement amplitude and muscle activity

Article


Bourdin, P., Martini, M. and Sanchez-Vives, M. V. 2019. Altered visual feedback from an embodied avatar unconsciously influences movement amplitude and muscle activity. Scientific Reports. 9 (Art. 19747). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56034-5
AuthorsBourdin, P., Martini, M. and Sanchez-Vives, M. V.
Abstract

Evidence suggests that the sense of the position of our body parts can be surreptitiously deceived, for instance through illusory visual inputs. However, whether altered visual feedback during limb movement can induce substantial unconscious motor and muscular adjustments is not known. To address this question, we covertly manipulated virtual body movements in immersive virtual reality. Participants were instructed to flex their elbow to 90° while tensing an elastic band, as their virtual arm reproduced the same, a reduced (75°), or an amplified (105°) movement. We recorded muscle activity using electromyography, and assessed body ownership, agency and proprioception of the arm. Our results not only show that participants compensated for the avatar’s manipulated arm movement while being completely unaware of it, but also that it is possible to induce unconscious motor adaptations requiring significant changes in muscular activity. Altered visual feedback through body ownership illusions can influence motor performance in a process that bypasses awareness.

JournalScientific Reports
Journal citation9 (Art. 19747)
ISSN2045-2322
Year2019
PublisherNature Research
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Anyone
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56034-5
Web address (URL)https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56034-5
Publication dates
Online24 Dec 2019
Publication process dates
Accepted30 Nov 2019
Deposited07 Jan 2020
FunderEU FP7
EU FP7
CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya and AGAUR
Copyright holder© 2019 The Authors
Permalink -

https://repository.uel.ac.uk/item/876yx

Download files


Publisher's version
s41598-019-56034-5.pdf
License: CC BY 4.0
File access level: Anyone

  • 162
    total views
  • 103
    total downloads
  • 1
    views this month
  • 5
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Understanding fNIRS as a neuromodulatory technique
Jiménez-García, A., Arias Del Castillo, N., Waight, J. and Martini, M. 2023. Understanding fNIRS as a neuromodulatory technique. IBRO Neuroscience Reports. 15 (Sup. 1), pp. S312-S313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibneur.2023.08.567
Sense of self, depression and adaption to grief, in emerging adults who suffered parental loss
Jones, S. and Martini, M. 2023. Sense of self, depression and adaption to grief, in emerging adults who suffered parental loss. Current Psychology. 42, p. 5212–5225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01843-z
Near-infrared light spectroscopy and stimulation in cognitive neuroscience: the need for an integrative view?
Martini, M. and Arias, N. 2021. Near-infrared light spectroscopy and stimulation in cognitive neuroscience: the need for an integrative view? Journal of Integrative Neuroscience. 20 (4), pp. 1105-1109. https://doi.org/10.31083/j.jin2004111
The Interaction of Diet and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Aging and Cognition
Kaliszewska, A., Allison, J., Martini, M. and Arias, N. 2021. The Interaction of Diet and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Aging and Cognition. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 22 (Art. 3574). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22073574
A Better Touch: C-tactile Fibers Related Activity is Associated to Pain Reduction During Temporal Summation of Second Pain
Fidanza, F., Polimeni, E., Pierangeli, V. and Martini, M. 2021. A Better Touch: C-tactile Fibers Related Activity is Associated to Pain Reduction During Temporal Summation of Second Pain. The Journal of Pain. 22 (5), pp. 567-576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2021.01.001
Pain modulation by illusory body rotation: A new way to disclose the interaction between the vestibular system and pain processing
Daniel, A., Barker, L. and Martini, M. 2020. Pain modulation by illusory body rotation: A new way to disclose the interaction between the vestibular system and pain processing. European Journal of Pain. 24 (6), pp. 1119-1129. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.1556
Agency and responsibility over virtual movements controlled through different paradigms of brain−computer interface
Nierula, B., Spanlang, B., Martini, M., Borrell, M., Nikulin, V. V. and Sanchez-Vives, M. V. 2019. Agency and responsibility over virtual movements controlled through different paradigms of brain−computer interface. Journal of Physiology. 599 (9), pp. 2419-2434. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP278167
Visuo-tactile stimulation, but not type of movement, modulates pain during the vision of a moving virtual limb
Gordon, C., Barbullushi, A., Tombolini, S., Margiotta, F., Ciacci, A., Sheck, L., Barker, L. and Martini, M. 2019. Visuo-tactile stimulation, but not type of movement, modulates pain during the vision of a moving virtual limb. Pain Management. 9 (5), pp. 449-460. https://doi.org/10.2217/pmt-2019-0019
Commentary: Mechanical Pain Thresholds and the Rubber Hand Illusion
Martini, M. 2018. Commentary: Mechanical Pain Thresholds and the Rubber Hand Illusion. Frontiers in Psychology. 9, p. Art. 1715. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01715
The Bodily Illusion in Adverse Conditions: Virtual Arm Ownership During Visuomotor Mismatch
Caola, Barbara, Montalti, Martina, Zanini, Alessandro, Leadbetter, Antony and Martini, M. 2018. The Bodily Illusion in Adverse Conditions: Virtual Arm Ownership During Visuomotor Mismatch. Perception. 47 (5), pp. 477 -491. https://doi.org/10.1177/0301006618758211
Selective distortion of body image by asynchronous visuotactile stimulation
Perez-Marcos, Daniel, Martini, M., Fuentes, Christina T., Bellido Rivas, Anna I., Haggard, Patrick and Sanchez-Vives, Maria V. 2017. Selective distortion of body image by asynchronous visuotactile stimulation. Body Image. 24, pp. 55-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.11.002
Pain During Illusory Own Arm Movement: A Study in Immersive Virtual Reality
Zanini, Alessandro, Montalti, Martina, Caola, Barbara, Leadbetter, A. and Martini, M. 2017. Pain During Illusory Own Arm Movement: A Study in Immersive Virtual Reality. European Medical Journal. 2 (2), pp. 90-97.
Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Chronic Pain and Depression: any Possible Applications of Multisensory Feedback Approaches Based on Body Representation?
Martini, M. 2017. Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Chronic Pain and Depression: any Possible Applications of Multisensory Feedback Approaches Based on Body Representation? Psychology and Behavioral Science International Journal. 2 (5), p. 555599. https://doi.org/10.19080/PBSIJ.2017.02.555599
Seeing an embodied virtual hand is analgesic contingent on co-location
Nierula, Birgit, Martini, M., Matamala-Gomez, Marta, Slater, Mel and Sanchez-Vives, Maria V. 2017. Seeing an embodied virtual hand is analgesic contingent on co-location. The Journal of Pain. 18 (6), pp. 645-655. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2017.01.003
Real, rubber or virtual: The vision of “one’s own” body as a means for pain modulation. A narrative review
Martini, M. 2016. Real, rubber or virtual: The vision of “one’s own” body as a means for pain modulation. A narrative review. Consciousness and Cognition. 43, pp. 143-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2016.06.005
Author's reply to the commentary by Gilpin et. al.
Martini, M., Perez-Marcos, D. and Sanchez-Vives, M.V. 2014. Author's reply to the commentary by Gilpin et. al. European Journal of Pain. 19 (1), pp. 143-144. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejp.606
Intracortical modulation, and not spinal inhibition, mediates placebo analgesia
Martini, M., Lee, M. C. H., Valentini, E. and Iannetti, G. D. 2014. Intracortical modulation, and not spinal inhibition, mediates placebo analgesia. European Journal of Neuroscience. 41 (4), pp. 498-504.
The body fades away: investigating the effects of transparency of an embodied virtual body on pain threshold and body ownership
Martini, M., Kilteni, Konstantina, Maselli, Antonella and Sanchez-Vives, Maria V. 2015. The body fades away: investigating the effects of transparency of an embodied virtual body on pain threshold and body ownership. Scientific Reports. 5, p. 13948. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep13948
Is That Me or My Twin? Lack of Self-Face Recognition Advantage in Identical Twins
Martini, M., Bufalari, Ilaria, Stazi, Maria Antonietta and Aglioti, Salvatore Maria 2015. Is That Me or My Twin? Lack of Self-Face Recognition Advantage in Identical Twins. PLoS ONE. 10 (4), p. e0120900. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0120900
Modulation of pain threshold by virtual body ownership
Martini, M., Perez-Marcos, D. and Sanchez-Vives, M.V. 2014. Modulation of pain threshold by virtual body ownership. European Journal of Pain. 18 (7), pp. 1040-1048.