Complementary actions

Abstract

Complementary colors are color pairs which, when combined in the right proportions, produce white or black. Complementary actions refer here to forms of social interaction wherein individuals adapt their joint actions according to a common aim. Notably, complementary actions are incongruent actions. But being incongruent is not sufficient to be complementary (i.e., to complete the action of another person). Successful complementary interactions are founded on the abilities: (i) to simulate another person’s movements, (ii) to predict another person’s future action/s, (iii) to produce an appropriate incongruent response which differ, while interacting, with observed ones, and (iv) to complete the social interaction by integrating the predicted effects of one’s own action with those of another person. This definition clearly alludes to the functional importance of complementary actions in the perception–action cycle and prompts us to scrutinize what is taking place behind the scenes. Preliminary data on this topic have been provided by recent cutting-edge studies utilizing different research methods. This mini-review aims to provide an up-to-date overview of the processes and the specific activations underlying complementary actions.

Overt orienting of spatial attention and corticospinal excitability during action observation are unrelated

“…For example, simply showing an actor moving her arm as if she intended to pour coffee into a cup located close to the observer produces an under-threshold activation of muscles that would be involved in a complementary action (e.g., lifting the cup). These results confirm that action observation does not inevitably lead to an imitative kind of motor facilitation but differs depending on the action context—when the context calls for a complementary action, the excitability pattern reflects the motor preparation of an appropriate response [40,41]. …”

“…These muscles were chosen because of their differential activation during the execution of PG versus WHG (i.e., a higher activation of FDI for PG and of ADM for WHG). As demonstrated in a series of previous studies [41,53,54], seeing an actor in a frontal position signaling a request near a salient object strategically placed out of her reach induces a modulation in the observer’s MEP amplitudes that is consistent with the intention to accept the request (here, reaching for and grasping the mug with a WHG) rather than with the tendency to resonate with the observed action (here, performing a PG). Notably, placing the object in the observer’s peripersonal space is a crucial factor for inducing a function-related affordance [55–58].…”

“…In this regard, complementary affordances refer to all those possibilities for interaction provided by others, which activate appropriate motor programs aiming to bring a common goal to completion [41]. We directly perceive and selectively respond to complementary actions, even in situations in which such involvement does not take place.…”

“…Complementary actions are defined as “any form of social interaction wherein two or more individuals coordinate and mutually complete their incongruent actions, rather than performing imitative behaviors” [41]. If someone holding a mug by its handle hands it to us, we automatically select the right grip to take it.…”

Joint Action: Mental Representations, Shared Information and General Mechanisms for Coordinating with Others

“…Moreover, joint action goals influence the acquisition of new skills: after learning to play melodies in a joint action context (i.e., duets), piano novices played better when later coordinating toward the shared action goal (the duet) compared to their own action goal (the melody; Loehr and Vesper, 2016). Further evidence for the role of goal representations in joint action comes from work on complementary action (Sartori and Betti, 2015) showing that, in contrast to an imitation context, performance of an action is facilitated if the goal is to complement someone else (van Schie et al, 2008; Poljac et al, 2009). …”