Moving Forward: On the Limits of Motor-Based Forward Models. Issue 9 (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dogge, Myrthel; Custers, Ruud; Aarts, Henk
• Is Part Of: Trends in cognitive sciences. Volume 23:Issue 9(2019)
• Page Start: 743
• Page End: 753
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: forward models -- prediction -- effect anticipation -- perceptual processing -- predictive coding -- ideomotor theory; Cognitive science -- Periodicals; Cognitive neuroscience -- Periodicals; 153.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2019.06.008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-6613

Abstract

Abstract : The human ability to anticipate the consequences that result from action is an essential building block for cognitive, emotional, and social functioning. A dominant view is that this faculty is based on motor predictions, in which a forward model uses a copy of the motor command to predict imminent sensory action-consequences. Although this account was originally conceived to explain the processing of action-outcomes that are tightly coupled to bodily movements, it has been increasingly extrapolated to effects beyond the body. Here, we critically evaluate this generalization and argue that, although there is ample evidence for the role of predictions in the processing of environment-related action-outcomes, there is hitherto little reason to assume that these predictions result from motor-based forward models. Highlights: The idea that motor predictions modulate the perceptual processing of action-outcomes in health and mental disease has been widely acknowledged. Motor-based forward models have been implicated in the processing of a variety of action-outcomes, ranging from body-related to environment-related outcomes. Here, we argue that the presumed involvement of motor-based forward models in the prediction of action-outcomes beyond the body is limited and hitherto unjustified. To move forward, cognitive prediction sources have to be incorporated in research on action-outcome processing.