Delusional thinking and action binding in healthy individuals

Cao, Liyu; Steinborn, Michael B.; Haendel, Barbara

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-97977-y

“…A new group of 30 participants were recruited for the test of attention in action binding (16 females; mean age = 21.2, SD = 1.9). Two previous studies from our own group using a similar set-up reported an effect size of 0.79 (n = 52) (Cao et al, 2021) and 0.62 (n = 42) (Cao et al, 2020). Assuming an effect size of 0.70 here, 23 participants (7 excluded in the formal data analysis, see below) lead to a statistical power of 0.95 (alpha = 0.05; one-tailed) (Faul et al, 2007).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…The order of the AS and the AO condition was counterbalanced across participants as there is a clear impact of the testing order on the size of action binding (Cao et al, 2021). The threshold of the visual probe was obtained prior to the action binding measure using a 2-down-1-up staircase procedure (Levitt, 1971).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A spatial-attentional mechanism underlies action-related distortions of time judgement

Cao

¹

2022

Preprint

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Outcome binding has long been understood as an illusion of timing perception, in which an action-effect is perceived as occurring earlier than it actually does. This illusion has been heavily investigated over the past two decades with regards to the mechanisms behind and potential applications. Here we present evidence in favour of understanding outcome binding as a spatial attentional effect, at least in part. In a series of 3 experiments, it was shown that an action-effect was preceded by a predictive attention shift in the classic Libet clock paradigm. The magnitude of attention shift predicted the size of outcome binding. When the attention shift was controlled for, binding also disappeared. Our study also calls for a reassessment of results obtained from the clock-like method in mental chronometry dating back to Wundt, as attention may well be a critical confounding factor in the interpretation of the results from these studies.

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A spatial-attentional mechanism underlies action-related distortions of time judgment

Cao

2024

eLife

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Temporal binding has been understood as an illusion in timing judgement. When an action triggers an outcome (e.g. a sound) after a brief delay, the action is reported to occur later than if the outcome does not occur, and the outcome is reported to occur earlier than a similar outcome not caused by an action. We show here that an attention mechanism underlies the seeming illusion of timing judgement. In one method, participants watch a rotating clock hand and report event times by noting the clock hand position when the event occurs. We find that visual attention is critically involved in shaping event time reports made in this way. This occurs because action and outcome events result in shifts of attention around the clock rim, thereby biasing the perceived location of the clock hand. Using a probe detection task to measure attention, we show a difference in attention distribution between a single-event condition (sound only or action only) and a two-event agency condition (action plus sound). Participants accordingly report the timing of the same event (the sound or the action) differently in the two conditions: spatial attentional shifts masquerading as temporal binding. Furthermore, computational modelling based on the attention measure can reproduce temporal binding. Studies that use time judgement as an implicit marker of voluntary agency should first discount the artefactual changes in event timing reports that actually reflect differences in spatial attention. The study also has important implications for related results in mental chronometry obtained with the clock-like method since Wundt, as attention may well be a critical confounding factor in the interpretation of these studies.

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A spatial-attentional mechanism underlies action-related distortions of time judgement

Cao

2023

Preprint

Self Cite

0

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Temporal binding has been understood as an illusion in timing judgement. When an action triggers an outcome (e.g. a sound) after a brief delay, the action is reported to occur later than if the outcome does not occur, and the outcome is reported to occur earlier than a similar outcome not caused by an action. We show here that an attention mechanism underlies the seeming illusion of timing judgement. In one method, participants watch a rotating clock hand and report event times by noting the clock hand position when the event occurs. We find that visual attention is critically involved in shaping event time reports made in this way. This occurs because action and outcome events result in shifts of attention around the clock rim, thereby biasing the perceived location of the clock hand. Using a probe detection task to measure attention, we show a difference in attention distribution between a single-event condition (sound only or action only) and a two-event agency condition (action plus sound). Participants accordingly report the timing of the same event (the sound or the action) differently in the two conditions: spatial attentional shifts masquerading as temporal binding. Furthermore, computational modelling based on the attention measure can reproduce temporal binding. Studies that use time judgement as an implicit marker of voluntary agency should first discount the artefactual changes in event timing reports that actually reflect differences in spatial attention. The study also has important implications for related results in mental chronometry obtained with the clock-like method since Wundt, as attention may well be a critical confounding factor in the interpretation of these studies.

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Delusional thinking and action binding in healthy individuals

Cited by 5 publications

References 41 publications

A spatial-attentional mechanism underlies action-related distortions of time judgement

A spatial-attentional mechanism underlies action-related distortions of time judgement

A spatial-attentional mechanism underlies action-related distortions of time judgment

A spatial-attentional mechanism underlies action-related distortions of time judgement

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