Papers by Claudia Bonfiglioli
In three experiments we assessed whether priming a hand shape activated motor information. Primes... more In three experiments we assessed whether priming a hand shape activated motor information. Primes consisted of photographs of hands displaying one of three postures (precision, power, open hand). Targets consisted of photographs (Experiment 1 and 3) or words (Experiment 2) of objects, artifacts and natural kinds, manipulable with a precision (pencil) or with a power grip (bottle). Participants had to categorize objects into artifacts or natural kinds by pressing a different key. They had to respond to target-objects only when the targets followed the precision and the power primes, while they didn't have to respond when the targets followed the open hand (catch-trial). In Experiments 1 and 2, artifacts were processed slower than natural kinds, and natural kinds graspable with a power grip were processed faster than those graspable with a precision grip. These results confirm that visual primes activate general motor information on objects. However, only in Experiment 3, in which...
A model of normal attentional function, based on the concept of competitive parallel processing, ... more A model of normal attentional function, based on the concept of competitive parallel processing, is used to compare attentional deficits following parietal and frontal lobe lesions. Measurements are obtained for visual processing speed, capacity of visual short-term memory (VSTM), spatial bias (bias to left or right hemifield) and top-down control (selective attention based on task relevance). The results show important differences, but also surprising similarities, in parietal and frontal lobe patients. For processing speed and VSTM, deficits are selectively associated with parietal lesions, in particular lesions of the temporoparietal junction. We discuss explanations based on either grey matter or white matter lesions. In striking contrast, measures of attentional weighting (spatial bias and top-downcontrol) are predicted by simple lesion volume.We suggest that attentional weights reflect competition between broadly distributed object representations. Parietal and frontal mechanisms work together, both inweighting by location andweighting by task context.
Neuroethics, 2019
Irrespective of the presence of formal norms, behaviours such as plagiarism, data fabrication and... more Irrespective of the presence of formal norms, behaviours such as plagiarism, data fabrication and falsification are commonly regarded as unethical and unfair. Almost unanimously, they are considered forms of academic misconduct. Is this the case also for newer behaviours that technology is making possible and are now entering the academic scenario? In the current paper we focus on cognitive enhancement (CE), the use of drugs to enhance cognitive skills of an otherwise healthy individual. At present, there are no formal rules forbidding its use in the academic setting. However, it is not clear whether there is a general public sentiment that CE should be considered as a modern form of academic misconduct. By means of the Contrastive Vignette Technique, we collected quantitative data from 284 online surveys to directly compare the attitude of the general public towards CE and plagiarism across different ethically relevant aspects. Our aim was to understand whether the use of prescription drugs to enhance a healthy person's cognitive skills is perceived similarly to a more common form of cheating, specifically plagiarism. Results show that our participants do not endorse CE. At the same time, however, their opinion on the ethical issues related to its use is not negative: rather, their attitude is more positive towards CE compared to plagiarism. This seems to pose against the idea that, at present, the use of cognitive enhancers in academic environments is regarded as a form of cheating.
The British journal of social psychology, Jan 27, 2017
Cues of leadership are features that signal who is (or who is expected to be) the leader in a spe... more Cues of leadership are features that signal who is (or who is expected to be) the leader in a specific context. Although their use is widespread, empirical research is scarce, especially for spatial positioning as a sign of leadership. Based on work on spatial biases, we suggest here that the upper-left corner of a page is a spatial position associated with leadership. In the present studies (N = 455), we investigated this hypothesis and showed that a layout with a photograph positioned in the upper-left corner (compared to the upper-right, lower-left, or lower-right corner) led people to infer that the person portrayed in the photograph had a leading (vs. subordinate) role in the organization. Participants also thought that the upper-left corner was the ideal spatial position to convey a leading (vs. subordinate) role in an organization. Implications of these results for symbols of leadership and spatial biases are discussed.
Giornale Italiano Di Psicologia, 2000
Perception, 2011
Western written languages unfold across both the horizontal (from left to right) and the vertical... more Western written languages unfold across both the horizontal (from left to right) and the vertical (from top to bottom) dimensions. Culturally determined horizontal reading/writing habits are so pervasive that their influence can be found not only in visual scanning but also in performance across different domains and tasks. However, little is known on the effects of vertical word order. In the present study, a lexical decision task is used to show that reading performance is less efficient when verbal material is vertically arranged following a bottom-to-top order.
Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 2010
Recent accounts of conceptual knowledge suggest that the specific gestures/actions that should be... more Recent accounts of conceptual knowledge suggest that the specific gestures/actions that should be performed in order to use an object for its intended function are an integral part of its mental representation. If this is true, then the information regarding which body part needs activating to interact with the object should also be part of such representation. Starting from the assumption that not only artefacts (i.e., tools), but also natural objects (i.e., fruits and vegetables) have a function, the present study investigates the existence of a link between a specific object and the effector involved in its use. The Implicit Association Test (IAT) paradigm was adopted to test for an association between natural objects and mouth, and between artefacts and hand (Experiment 1) or foot (Experiment 2). Results showed selective links between objects and effectors, based on which body part is needed to carry out the object's function.
Neuropsychologia, 2000
The aim of the present study was to assess the eects of dopaminergic medication on the organisati... more The aim of the present study was to assess the eects of dopaminergic medication on the organisation of the reach-to-grasp movement in Parkinson's disease. A three-dimensional kinematic system (ELITE, BvTvSv Italy) was used to record reach-to-grasp movements to objects of either small (0.7 cm) or large (8 cm) diameter placed at a reaching distance of either 20 or 30 cm. Vision of the reaching limb and target was also manipulated. Parkinson's disease participants (N = 14) were assessed in`OFF' (12 h without medication) and`ON' (1±2 h post-administration of medication) states. In the`ON' state, movement duration and the time spent in arm deceleration were signi®cantly less than in the`OFF' state. The amplitudes of peak reaching velocity, acceleration and deceleration were all higher in the`ON' than in the`OFF' state. Further, in the`ON' state, the acceleration pro®le no longer exhibited small irregular adjustments, the number of signi®cant correlations between parameters measured from the transport and manipulation components was greater, and the movement was more direct in both the mediolateral horizontal and vertical planes. These results indicate that dopaminergic medication is of bene®t in reducing bradykinesia and in ®ne-tuning kinematic parameterisation of a selected reach-to-grasp action.
Developmental Science, 2013
In the primate brain, sensory information is processed along two partially segregated cortical st... more In the primate brain, sensory information is processed along two partially segregated cortical streams: the ventral stream, mainly coding for objects' shape and identity, and the dorsal stream, mainly coding for objects' quantitative information (including size, number, and spatial position). Neurophysiological measures indicate that such functional segregation is present early on in infancy, and that the two streams follow independent maturational trajectories during childhood. Here we collected, in a large sample of young children and adults, behavioural measures on an extensive set of functions typically associated with either the dorsal or the ventral stream. We then used a correlational approach to investigate the presence of inter-individual variability resulting in clustering of functions. Results show that dorsal-and ventral-related functions follow two uncorrelated developmental trajectories. Moreover, within each stream, some functions show age-independent correlations: finger gnosis, nonsymbolic numerical abilities and spatial abilities within the dorsal stream, and object and face recognition abilities within the ventral stream. This pattern of clear within-stream cross-task correlation seems to be lost in adults, with two notable exceptions: performance in face and object recognition on one side, and in symbolic and non-symbolic comparison on the other, remain correlated, pointing to distinct shape recognition and quantity comparison systems.
Cognition, 2009
The Italian demonstrative pronouns questo/a (&amp... more The Italian demonstrative pronouns questo/a ('this([mas/fem])') and quello/a ('that([mas/fem])') implicitly convey information about objects' distance with respect to the speaker. Our study investigated the referents of questo/a ('this([mas/fem])') and quello/a ('that([mas/fem])') by analysing their influence on reach-to-grasp actions towards objects located near to (12cm) or far from (30cm) the participant. Upon acoustic instruction containing one or the other pronoun, participants had to reach for and grasp a target object. Results showed an effect of pronoun on movement planning. When the object was in the far position, reaction times were faster for the congruent pronoun quello/a, whereas when it was in the near position they were faster for the congruent pronoun questo/a. Interactions between implied and real target distance suggest that the conceptual spaces of questo/a and quello/a do not map onto a strict distinction between peripersonal and extrapersonal space.
Proceedings of the …, 2005
In three experiments we assessed whether priming a hand shape activated motor information. Primes... more In three experiments we assessed whether priming a hand shape activated motor information. Primes consisted of photographs of hands displaying one of three postures (precision, power, open hand). Targets consisted of photographs (Experiment 1 and 3) or words (Experiment 2) of objects, artifacts and natural kinds, manipulable with a precision (pencil) or with a power grip (bottle). Participants had to categorize objects into artifacts or natural kinds by pressing a different key. They had to respond to target-objects only when the targets followed the precision and the power primes, while they didn't have to respond when the targets followed the open hand (catch-trial). In Experiments 1 and 2, artifacts were processed slower than natural kinds, and natural kinds graspable with a power grip were processed faster than those graspable with a precision grip. These results confirm that visual primes activate general motor information on objects. However, only in Experiment 3, in which a motor training phase lead participants to associate a specific visual prime with a motor action, we found an interaction between Kind of Prime (precision, power) and Kind of Grip (precision, power grip). Results suggest that vision and motor information are strictly interwoven and support theories according to which object concepts are grounded in sensorimotor experience.
Rivista Internazionale di Filosofia e Psicologia, 2020
Riassunto: L’impianto cocleare (IC) e una neuroprotesi che consente un recupero parziale dell’udi... more Riassunto: L’impianto cocleare (IC) e una neuroprotesi che consente un recupero parziale dell’udito nella persona sorda. Nonostante la sua generale efficacia nel contrastare alcuni dei problemi legati alla sordita, il suo utilizzo e stato fortemente osteggiato da quella parte della comunita sorda che vede nella sordita una forma di identita culturale e non una patologia. Questo articolo inquadra in una prospettiva neuroetica le preoccupazioni della comunita sorda – difficilmente comprensibili agli udenti – esaminando le analogie fra il rifiuto dell’IC e il disagio che si osserva nella popolazione generale relativamente al Potenziamento Cognitivo (PCog). Nel PCog, individui sani insoddisfatti delle proprie prestazioni, o comunque desiderosi di migliorarle, ricorrono ad interventi artificiali per potenziare le proprie funzioni cognitive. L’analisi evidenzia come, nel rifiutare l’IC, la comunita sorda possa voler tutelare un insieme di valori non cosi diverso da quello che la comunita ...
Accettato per la stampa il 19 Settembre 1992 Erbari pre-linneani a Bologna: alcune collezioni del... more Accettato per la stampa il 19 Settembre 1992 Erbari pre-linneani a Bologna: alcune collezioni dell'epoca di Ulisse Aldrovandi recentemente scoperte.-Bologna fu uno dei centri nei quali si sviluppò, nel XVI secolo, la tecnica di realizzare erbari, grazie soprattutto all' opera di Luca Ghini (1490-1556) e Ulisse Aldrovandi (1522-1605). Varie collezioni realizzate tra il XVI e il XVIII secolo, prima fra tutte l'erbario in 16 volumi di Ulisse Aldrovandi, sono tuttora conservate a Bologna; tra queste, particolarmente interessante è un erbario anonimo databile tra la fine del XVI e l'inizio del XVII secolo, che contiene 273 piante incollate su 88 fogli rilegati. Questo erbario fu esaminato attorno al 1890 da G.E.Mattei, che lo attribuì a Giacomo Zanoni (1615-1682), curatore dell'Orto Botanico di Bologna. Anche A.Baldacci studiò approfonditamente questo erbario, senza tuttavia indicare un possibile autore. Mentre non esistono indizi che avvalorino l'ipotesi di Mattei, alcune note riportate sui fogli d'erbario paiono indicare come autori della collezione i fratelli Jean e Gaspard Bauhin. Per confermare questa ipotesi si è provveduto a confrontare le note manoscritte con le indicazioni presenti nelle principali opere di Gaspard Bauhin (Phytopinax, 1596; Prodromos Theatri Botanici, 1620; Pinax, 1623) e di Jean Bauhin (Historia Plantarum, 1650-1651). Si è inoltre confrontato il materiale presente a Bologna con le collezioni ed i manoscritti dei fratelli Bauhin conservati a Basilea.
Mental states: Evolution, function, nature, 2007
In two experiments we investigate whether different decision tasks were influenced by object mani... more In two experiments we investigate whether different decision tasks were influenced by object manipulability. In Experiment 1, participants had to categorize objects (drawings or words) into artifacts or natural kinds. In Experiment 2, manipulability was made relevant to the task; participants were to decide whether or not objects could be picked up and put inside a backpack. Overall natural objects received faster responses than artifacts. In Experiment 2 an effect of manipulability was also found, but only with natural kinds, probably due to the ...
Proceedings of the …, 2005
In three experiments we assessed whether priming a hand shape activated motor information. Primes... more In three experiments we assessed whether priming a hand shape activated motor information. Primes consisted of photographs of hands displaying one of three postures (precision, power, open hand). Targets consisted of photographs (Experiment 1 and 3) or words (Experiment 2) of objects, artifacts and natural kinds, manipulable with a precision (pencil) or with a power grip (bottle). Participants had to categorize objects into artifacts or natural kinds by pressing a different key. They had to respond to target-objects only when the targets followed the precision and the power primes, while they didn't have to respond when the targets followed the open hand (catch-trial). In Experiments 1 and 2, artifacts were processed slower than natural kinds, and natural kinds graspable with a power grip were processed faster than those graspable with a precision grip. These results confirm that visual primes activate general motor information on objects. However, only in Experiment 3, in which a motor training phase lead participants to associate a specific visual prime with a motor action, we found an interaction between Kind of Prime (precision, power) and Kind of Grip (precision, power grip). Results suggest that vision and motor information are strictly interwoven and support theories according to which object concepts are grounded in sensorimotor experience.
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the biological relevance of the stimulus ... more The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the biological relevance of the stimulus could enhance task- irrelevant spatial information delivered by a pair of bilateral stimuli. Participants had to perform a Simon-like task in which they were required to respond to the color of two framed squares (on and off-centered), two framed arrows, or two schematic eyes
In two experiments we assessed whether seeing objects automatically activates information regardi... more In two experiments we assessed whether seeing objects automatically activates information regarding how to manipulate them. In Experiment 1 participants categorized photographs of objects that could be manipulated either with a power or a precision grip into artefacts or natural kinds. Targetobjects were preceded by primes consisting of photographs of hands in grasping postures (precision or power grip). Experiment 2 involved a preliminary motor training phase in which each visual prime was associated with the actual motor action. In both experiments, natural kinds graspable with a power grip produced the fastest responses. In Experiment 2 we also found a congruency effect between the prime and the kind of grip required by the object (precision, power). Results suggest that visual stimuli automatically activate motor information. Specific motor programs are, however, activated only if motor training is performed before the categorization task. Implications of the results for the understanding of the organization of conceptual and motor information in the brain are discussed. 2 Borghi, Bonfiglioli, Lugli, Ricciardelli, Rubichi & Nicoletti. Are visual stimuli sufficient to evoke motor information? Studies with hand primes. Neuroscience Letters, 2007 INTRODUCTION A recent account of conceptual knowledge (the Information Distributed Over Modalities Account, IDOMA; [3]) suggests that information is distributed over modality attribute domains (visual, tactile, etc.). These domains are more or less activated depending on their relevance during knowledge acquisition ([1]; [27]). According to this view, which is different from the classic information processing view, perception and action are not seen as functionally distinguishable stages, but as intimately related processes. In line with this account, various evidence on cortical object representation has shown that tools and manipulable objects, unlike non-manipulable artefacts, activate motor-related areas ([8]; [17]; [20]; [23]; [25]). Consistent with the IDOMA theory, neuropsychological and behavioral studies confirm the tight interrelation between vision and action (e.g., [7]; [10]; [11]). Behavioral evidence with
In two experiments we investigate whether different decision tasks wereinfluenced by object manip... more In two experiments we investigate whether different decision tasks wereinfluenced by object manipulability. In Experiment 1, participants had to categorize objects represented by drawings or by words into artefacts or natural kinds. Natural objects received faster responses than artefacts, probably because the latter activate functional information that interferes with task responses. In Experiment 2, manipulability was made relevant to
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Papers by Claudia Bonfiglioli