Unveiling the invisible: receivers use object weight cues for grip force planning in handover actions

This study aimed to investigate whether receivers are able to correctly estimate object weight by observing the giver's kinematics. For this purpose, handover actions were performed with 20 dyads, manipulating the participant role (giver/receiver) and varying the size and weight of the object. Due to the random presentation of the object weight and the absence of visual cues, the participants were unaware of the object weight from trial to trial. Kinematics were recorded with a motion tracking system and grip forces were recorded with customized test objects. Peak grip force rates were used as a measure of anticipated object weight. Results showed that receiver kinematics are significantly affected by object weight. The peak grip force rates showed that receivers anticipate object weight, but givers not. This supports the hypothesis that receivers obtain information about the object weight by observing giver's kinematics and integrating this information into their own action execution.PMID:38498154 | DOI:10.1007/s00221-024-06813-y
Source: Experimental Brain Research - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Source Type: research