In the world of social interactions, whether it’s a handshake or a casual conversation, we heavily rely on perception and observing others. But have you ever wondered what goes on in your brain during these interactions?
Researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience have uncovered some fascinating insights into this aspect of human perception, revealing that our interpretation of others’ actions is more influenced by our expectations than we previously thought.
Decoding Brain Processes in Social Interactions and Observations
For a while, researchers have been looking into how our brains process the actions of others. Common understanding was that observing someone else’s action triggers a specific sequence in our brain: first, the visual brain regions light up, followed by the activation of parietal and premotor regions – areas we use to perform similar actions ourselves.
This theory was based on brain activity observations in humans and monkeys during laboratory experiments involving isolated actions.
However, real-life actions are rarely isolated; they often follow a predictable sequence with an end goal, such as making breakfast. This raises the question: how does our brain handle such sequences?
Our Expectations Shape Our Perception
The new research, led by Christian Keysers and Valeria Gazzola, offers an intriguing perspective. When we observe actions in meaningful sequences, our brains increasingly rely on predictions from our motor system, almost ignoring the visual input.
Simply put, what we anticipate becomes what our brain perceives.
This shift in understanding came from a unique study involving epilepsy patients who participated in intracranial EEG research. This method allowed researchers to measure the brain’s electrical activity directly, offering a rare peek into the brain’s functioning.
Experimenting with Perception
During the study, participants watched videos of everyday actions, like preparing breakfast. The researchers tested two conditions: one where actions were shown in their natural sequence and another where the sequence was randomized. Surprisingly, the brain’s response varied significantly between these conditions.
In the randomized sequence, the brain followed the traditional information flow: from visual to motor regions. But in the natural sequence, the flow reversed. Information traveled from motor regions to visual areas, suggesting that participants relied more on their knowledge and expectations of the task rather than the visual input.
This discovery aligns with the broader realization in neuroscience that our brain is predictive. It constantly forecasts what will happen next, suppressing expected sensory input.
We perceive the world from the inside out, based on our expectations. However, if reality defies these expectations, the brain adjusts, and we become more aware of the actual visual input.
Implications of the Study
Understanding this predictive nature of our brain has significant implications. It sheds light on how we interact socially and could inform approaches in various fields, from psychology to virtual reality technologies.
This research also highlights the complexity of human perception, revealing that our interpretation of the world around us is a blend of sensory input and internal predictions.
The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience’s study opens new doors in understanding human perception. It challenges the traditional view of sensory processing, emphasizing the role of our expectations in shaping our interpretation of others’ actions. As we continue to explore the depths of the human brain, studies like these remind us of the intricate and fascinating ways in which our mind works.
Source: “When we see what others do, our brain sees not what we see, but what we expect” — ScienceDaily
