Ferraro, L. 1 , Rubichi, S. 1 , Nicoletti, R. 2 , Iani, C. 1 & Gallese, V. 3
1 University of Modena and Reggio Emilia
2 University of Bologna
3 University of Parma
Ideomotor theories predict that learning effects should be present when action effects are observed. The transfer of learning effect consists in the modulation (i.e., elimination or reversal) of the Simon effect (that is, the tendency to react toward stimulus location) when participants practice with incompatible S-R mappings before performing the Simon task. In line with ideomotor theories, in Experiment 1 we showed that the transfer of learning effect is related to observed action effects and not to real performance. Indeed, participants observed the practice task performed by the computer and then transferred to the Simon task. The Simon effect was eliminated after a spatially incompatible practice (and not after a spatially compatible practice). The transfer of learning strictly depends on the possibility to emit a manual response: no modulation occurred when a transparent screen separated participants from the response device (Experiment 2). In addition, no transfer of learning was found when during practice a standard response device was absent (Experiment 3). On the whole, results indicated that the observation of action effects activates motor representations similarly to what occurs when the action is actually performed.