A proposed EEG study: the role of object affordance during action observation

Abstract

Over the past two decades, research on the human mirror neuron system (MNS) has flourished. According to this model, there is substantial evidence that both action execution and action observation activate the motor system. However, to date, few studies have attempted to examine the role that object affordance may have during action observation. The proposed study attempts to assess this and other issues by having participants watch videos of an actor making goal-directed reaches to a common household object. In the congruent condition, the actor makes a reach and grasps the handle of a mug. In the affordance incongruent condition, the actor makes a reach but grasps the side of the mug opposite from the handle. Electroencephalogram (EEG) will be recorded throughout participant viewing and the EEG data will be decomposed into frequency bands using a Morlet wavelet analysis. The mu rhythm (8-13 Hz) will be of particular interest. Electrode sites of interest include sites over the central parietal areas as well as frontal sites. It is hoped that the proposed study will provide insight into the role of object affordance during action observation.