Motor actions influence subsequent sensorimotor decisions

Abstract

Sensorimotor decisions are influenced by factors beyond the current sensory input, but little is known about the effect of preceding motor actions. Here, we show that choice-unrelated motor actions influence subsequent sensorimotor decisions. By instructing participants to perform choice-unrelated motor responses before visuomotor decisions, we could manipulate upcoming decisions in a directed fashion. Subjects tended not to repeat the instructed motor response. Our results show that simple motor behaviors can influence subsequent sensorimotor decision.