Action-space coding in social contexts

Abstract

In two behavioural experiments we tested whether performing a spatial task along with another agent changes space representation by rendering some reference frames more/less salient than others. To this end, we used a Simon task in which stimuli were presented in four horizontal locations thus allowing for spatial coding according to multiple frames of reference. In Experiment 1 participants performed a go/no-go Simon task along another agent, each being in charge of one response. In Experiment 2 they performed a two-choice Simon task along another agent, each being in charge of two responses. Results showed that when participants were in charge of only one response, stimulus position was coded only with reference to the centre of the screen hence suggesting that the co-actor's response, or the position of the co-actor, was represented and used as a reference for spatial coding. Differently, when participants were in charge of two responses, no effect of the social context emerged and spatial coding relied on multiple frames of reference, similarly to when the Simon task is performed individually. These findings provide insights on the influence played by the interaction between the social context (i.e. the presence of others) and task features on individual performance.

Figure 1. Schematic representation of the four locations in which the stimulus could appear, resulting for the manipulation of hemispace (left and right) and relative position (left and right).

Left hemispace refers to panels A and B; whereas right hemispace refers to panels C and D. Left relative position refers to panels A and C; whereas right relative position refers to panels B and D.

Figure 2. Schematic representation of the display and experimental conditions used in Experiment 1 (left panel) and Experiment 2 (right panel).