There is convincing evidence for a mirror system in humans which simulates actions of conspecifics. One possible purpose of such a simulation system is to support action prediction in real-time. Our goal was to study whether the prediction of actions involves a real-time simulation process. We motion-captured a number of human actions and rendered them as point-light action sequences. Observers...

Movements are inherently variable. When we move to a particular point in space, a cloud of final limb positions is observed around the target. Previously we noted that patterns of variability at the end of movement to a circular target were not circular, but instead reflected patterns of limb stiffness-in directions where limb stiffness was high, variability in end position was low, and vice ve...

This study evaluated the use of video self-evaluation and video feedback to increase the accuracy of yoga poses. The interventions were assessed in a multiple baseline design across behaviors with 2 adults. Results showed that video self-evaluation increased the accuracy of all poses, and video feedback further increased the accuracy of 1 pose for 1 participant.

Participants' fingers were guided to 2 locations on a table for 3 s, then back to the start. They reported distances and angles between the locations by (a) replacing 1 or 2 fingers, (b) translating the contacted configuration, or (c) estimating distance or angle alone. Distance error increased across these conditions. Angular error increased when the angular reference axis was rotated before t...

UNLABELLED Spatial orientation in relation to the gravitational axis is significantly important for the maintenance of the posture, gait and for most of the human's motor activities. The subjective visual vertical exam evaluates the individual's perception of vertical orientation. OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were (1) to develop a virtual system to evaluate the subjective visual vertical...

A physiological quiet standing model, described by a delayed differential equation, subject to a white noise perturbation, is proposed to study the postural control system of human beings. It has been found that the white noise destabilizes the equilibrium state, and inertia accelerates the destabilizing process, and that the position of a person is detected and processed by the person's nervou...

The accuracy and speed with which emotional facial expressions are identified is influenced by body postures. Two influential models predict that these congruency effects will be largest when the emotion displayed in the face is similar to that displayed in the body: the emotional seed model and the dimensional model. These models differ in whether similarity is based on physical characteristic...

This study aimed to perform an ergonomic analysis in a fiberglass parts factory. For this purpose, was used the methodology of Ergonomic Work Analysis (EWA). At the end of the study it was possible to identify some ways to the development of improvements in order to contribute to the transformation of working conditions in the sector analyzed.

This study explores the influence of test repetition on bipodal visually controlled balance, both static and dynamic. Our goal was to get an insight into the pattern of changes in posture maintenance results during repeated balance tests. Fifteen young, healthy male recreational athletes were tested for static and for dynamic balance using KAT 2000 balance platform. The subjects first performed...

Numerous aversive events occur in poultry production, and if repeated and unpredictable, can result in an impaired welfare. Some events such as handling can be perceived negatively and it is of interest to understand how humans' behaviour could affect poultry's behaviours and especially its avoidance of humans. Our aim was to evaluate short- and long-lasting effects of a 3-week procedure involv...