Hypnotizability and haptics: visual recognition of unimanually explored ‘nonmeaningful’ objects

• Published in: Experimental brain research Vol. 221; no. 2; pp. 137 - 142
• Main Authors: Castellani, E., Carli, G., Santarcangelo, E. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.08.2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis of Variance; Applied physiology; Asymmetry; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cognitive ability; Exploration; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Female; Functional Laterality - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hand; Haptics; Hemispheric laterality; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; Hypnosis; Male; Medical sciences; Neurology; Neurosciences; Pattern Recognition, Visual - physiology; Photic Stimulation; Physiology; Reaction Time - physiology; Recognition (Psychology) - physiology; Research Article; Sensorimotor integration; Styles; Touch - physiology; Transports. Aerospace. Diving. Altitude; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Young Adult; Hypnotizability; Hemispheres; Haptics; Imagery; Mental imagery; Manual task; Sensorimotor coordination; Bimanual task; Asymmetry; Haptic perception; Hand
• ISSN: 0014-4819; 1432-1106; 1432-1106
• DOI: 10.1007/s00221-012-3154-0

The cognitive trait of hypnotizability modulates sensorimotor integration and mental imagery. In particular, earlier results show that visual recognition of ‘nonmeaningful’, unfamiliar objects bimanually explored is faster and more accurate in subjects with high (Highs) than with low hypnotizability (Lows). The present study was aimed at investigating whether Highs exhibit a similar advantage after unimanual exploration. Recognition frequency (RF) and Recognition time (RT) of correct recognitions of the explored objects were recorded. The results showed the absence of any hypnotizability-related difference in recognition frequencies. In addition, RF of the right and left hand was comparable in Highs as in Lows, while slight differences were found in RT. We suggest that hemispheric co-operation played a key role in the better performance of Highs in the bimanual task previously studied. In the unimanual exploration, the task’s characteristics (favoring the left hand), hypnotizability-related cerebral asymmetry (favoring the right hand in Highs) and the possible preferential verbal style of recognition in Lows (favoring the right hand in this group) antagonize each other and prevent the occurrence of major differences between the performance of Highs and Lows.