Influence of short-term chopsticks usage on kinematics of subsequent reach-to-grasp movements:

Object familiarity and autistic traits

抄録

The aim of this study was to investigate whether short-term chopsticks usage affects kinematics of subsequent reach-to-grasp movements in Japanese participants and whether this effect is modulated by autistic traits. Right-handed participants participated in three sequential sessions: first hand-grasping (PRE), chopstick action (CHP), and second hand-grasping (POST). Two objects were tested: familiar (mockups of sushi) and non-familiar (gray object with the same shape as these mockups) objects. Before the experiment, the participants were also required to answer the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) test. We found a marginally significant positive correlation between transition period from grasping end to uplift initiation and AQ scores in the non-familiar condition while no significant correlation between them in the familiar condition. This result suggests that visual familiarity contributes to improving the action for higher AQ participants.