Twin peaks: An ERP study of action planning and control in coacting individuals

Natalie Sebanz*, Günther Knoblich, Wolfgang Prinz, Edmund Wascher

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract (may include machine translation)

Previous studies have shown that perceiving another's actions activates corresponding representations in an observer's action system. The present study investigated how performing a task with another person affects action planning and control. Reaction times (RTs) and event-related potentials were measured while participants performed a go/no-go task alone and with another person. Three effects of acting together were observed. First, RTs were slowed when individuals had to respond to a stimulus referring to the other's action, suggesting that an action selection conflict occurred. Second, at frontal sites, a stimulus referring to the other's action elicited a similar electrophysiological response as a stimulus referring to one's own action. Finally, on no-go trials, P300 amplitude was significantly larger in a group setting, indicating that an action was suppressed. These findings provide evidence that individuals acting in a social context form shared action representations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)859-870
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of cognitive neuroscience
Volume18
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2006
Externally publishedYes

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