Testing the Motor Simulation Account of Source Errors for Actions in Recall

Imitation-inhibition training can reduce the observation-inflation effect in face-to-face scenarios

Observing others performing an action can lead to false memories of self-performance-the observation-inflation effect. Previous research has indicated that this phenomenon might impact the memory of actions in real-world interactions. However, whether direct observation without interaction can lead to observation inflation remains unclear. In Experiment 1, participants passively observed the experimenter performing actions live. In subsequent memory tests, they indeed reported false memories regarding their performances. Building on this, Experiment 2 investigated the causes of the observation-inflation effect induced by "real" actions. Participants underwent imitation-inhibition training with the individuals they observed previously. The results revealed that participants who completed imitation-inhibition training reported fewer false memories in memory tests than those who completed imitation training. These findings suggest that even passive observation of "real" actions can lead to observation inflation, and the simulation of others' actions by individuals may be a potential underlying cause of their occurrence in real-life situations.

Is motor activity the key to the observation-inflation effect? The role of action simulation

Observing others performing an action can lead to false memories of self-performance - the observation-inflation effect. The action simulation hypothesis proposes that an action simulation caused by people's observation of an action is the key reason for this effect. Previous studies have inconsistent views of this hypothesis. In the present study, we re-examined the role of action simulation and discussed the key aspects of the mental processes associated with it. We examined the hypotheses that (a) the magnitude of the observation-inflation effect would decrease as the action simulation was impeded and (b) the magnitude of the observation-inflation effect would not be significantly different in conditions in which participants watched either a part of a video or a full video. The results are consistent with the hypotheses. This study provides strong evidence that action simulation influences the generation of observation-inflation effects and that the process is continuous and can refer to further action information.

Pointing movements and visuo-spatial working memory in a joint setting: the role of motor inhibition

Previous studies have shown that, under specific conditions, arrays that have been pointed at encoding are recognized better than passively viewed ones. According to one interpretation, the superior recognition of pointed-to arrays can be explained by the motor inhibition of passively viewed arrays. The present study sought to determine whether a similar motor inhibition can be induced also when the participants observed a co-actor perform the pointing movements. Participants were presented with two spatial arrays, one of which was encoded via observation only (the no-move array), while the other was encoded with pointing movements (the move array); movements were performed either by the participant or by the experimenter. Experiment 1 replicated the advantage of self-pointed arrays over passively viewed arrays. Experiment 2 showed that, when participants passively observed the pointing movements performed by the experimenter, move arrays were recognized no better than no-move arrays. Finally, Experiment 3 demonstrated that, in a joint-action condition in which participants alternated with the experimenter in making pointing movements, the advantage of experimenter-pointed arrays over passively viewed arrays was significant and similar in size to the advantage produced by self-performed movements. Importantly, a series of cross-experiment comparisons indicated that the higher recognition of both self- and experimenter-pointed arrays in Experiment 3 could be explained by the motor inhibition of no-move arrays. We propose that, in a joint condition, the pointing movements performed by the experimenter were represented in the same functional way as self-performed movements and that this produced the motor inhibition of passively viewed arrays.