Perceptual and behavioral adjustments after action inhibition

Abstract

Inhibiting a motor action typically prompts a more cautious action mode, leaning toward accuracy rather than speed. In the present study, we explored whether action inhibition is also accompanied by changes of visual perception. Our participants performed goal-directed hand movements from a start to a target position and then judged the start–target distance. On a proportion of the trials, movement execution had to be stopped before the target position was reached. The results of two experiments revealed smaller start–target distance estimates after interrupted than after unrestricted movements. Moreover, movement amplitudes were decreased in movements that followed interrupted ones. In line with the predictions of action-specific accounts of perception, this outcome indicates that subjective perceptual changes might inform us how to plan future actions.