The Process of Adaptation to Perceiving New Action Capabilities

In this study, we investigated how observers adapt their perception to new action capabilities when their body scale has changed. Previous studies (Mark, 1987; Mark, Balliett, Craver, Douglas, & Fox, 1990) showed that perception of action capabilities is gradually retuned without practice of relevant actions. We examined the retuning of 2 different action capabilities and explored the effect of direction of presentation on retuning. Sixteen men students whose action capabilities were altered by wearing geta shoes (Japanese traditional clogs) were asked to estimate 2 action capabilities (stepping over a bar and sitting on a seat) in 2 presentation series (ascending and descending series). The results showed that retuning occurred regardless of action, but detection of retuning depended on the direction of presentation. Retuning was detected in the ascending series but not in the descending series. This difference between the 2 series is interpreted in terms of the regions that afford actions. Finally, the occurrence of retuning is discussed in reference to the process of embodiment.

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