Motor Contagion during Human-Human and Human-Robot Interaction

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106172
• Publication Date: 2014-08-25T18:07:03Z
• Authors: Ambra Bisio; Alessandra Sciutti; Francesco Nori; Giorgio Metta; Luciano Fadiga; Giulio Sandini; Thierry Pozzo
• Keywords: Human–robot interaction

Motor resonance mechanisms are known to affect humans' ability interact with others, yielding the kind of "mutual understanding" that is basis social interaction. However, it remains unclear how partner's action features combine or compete promote prevent motor during To clarify this point, present study tested whether and nature visual stimulus properties observed actions influence observer's response, being contagion one behavioral manifestations resonance. Participants a humanoid robot human agent move their hands into pre-specified final position put an object container at various velocities. Their movements, both in object- non-object- directed conditions, were characterized by either smooth/curvilinear jerky/segmented trajectory. These trajectories covered biological non-biological kinematics (the latter only robot). After observation, participants requested reach indicated transport similar another container. Results showed appeared for interactive partner except when violated laws motion. findings suggest observer may transiently match his/her own repertoire agent. This matching might mediate activation resonance, modulate spontaneity pleasantness interaction, whatever communication partner.