Abstract
We can perceive a motion of single dot as animate or having intention. This phenomenon is referred to as animacy perception, of which underlying mechanisms are complicated and still open. We investigated the impact of goal-directedness on animacy perception by manipulating the visibility of a goal. In the experiment, we presented a single white dot, and measured the intensity of predictability, intentionality, and animacy perceived from the dot. In the goal-visible condition, the white dot moved toward the visible black dots. In the goal-invisible condition, the black dots were invisible. The results showed that the predictability and intentionality were higher in the goal-visible condition than in the goal-invisible condition, whereas the intensity of animacy was unchanged. Predictability and intentionality were not correlated regardless of the visibility of the goal, and predictability and animacy were negatively correlated. We will discuss the relationship between these four mental factors in animacy perception.
