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

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

Research funded by the Italian Space Agency. We acknowledge the helpful criticism of Prof. M Di Stefano in the interpretation of results and in the drawing up of the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno 31, 56127, Pisa, Italy

    E. Castellani & E. L. Santarcangelo

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    G. Carli

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  1. E. Castellani
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  2. G. Carli
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  3. E. L. Santarcangelo
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Correspondence to E. Castellani.

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Castellani, E., Carli, G. & Santarcangelo, E.L. Hypnotizability and haptics: visual recognition of unimanually explored ‘nonmeaningful’ objects. Exp Brain Res 221, 137–142 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-012-3154-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-012-3154-0

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