Processing self-relevant stimuli in joint action scenes:

Evidence from event-related potential study

Abstract

We recorded event-related potentials (ERP) while participants performed a Go/No-go flanker task and investigated the relationship between the activation of other-task representations and the priority of processing self-stimuli. The participants in Experiment 1 (Joint condition) sat in pairs facing a computer monitor. In contrast, the participants in Experiment 2 (Individual condition) sat alone. In both experiments, they responded to target stimuli in the central letter of a flanker array. Results of the Joint condition indicated a prolonged latency and an increased P3b amplitude in No-go trials in which the flanker was a self-target, suggesting the progress of stimulus evaluation. In addition, the lateralized readiness potential (LRP) in No-go trials showed motor response preparation for the self-target flanker. In contrast, the No-go trials in the Individual condition showed neither an increased P3b amplitude nor LRP. These results suggest that acting with others may be a factor that leads to self-priority.