Symposia/Workshop programme

 

On the perceptions of action and of affective touch, and their contribution to the somatic self

Synopsis

 

Organised by

Jonathan Cole (Universities of Bournemouth and Southampton, UK)

 

Location *

TBC

 

0845

Welcome and Introduction Jonathan Cole

0900

Håkan Olausson (Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden)
Affective touch: the role of CT afferents

0930

Francis McGlone (University of Nottingham, UK)
The neuroscience of cutaneous pleasure

1000

Steven Tipper (University of Wales, Bangor)
The role of attention on effective evaluation and action perception

1030

Coffee

1100

Patrick Haggard ( University College London, UK)
The sensory self and the acting self

1130

Christopher Frith (Institute of Neurology, London, UK)
Problems with the awareness and control of action

 

Synopsis

Empirical work with conscious human subjects has allowed data not only on sensory and motor mechanisms but also on perception during action and sensory stimulation. It has emerged that awareness during movement may involve both peripheral feedback and the perception of action itself. In parallel work peripheral sensation has become to be seen not only in terms of extero- and proprioception but to have an affective or emotional dimension too. The symposium will consider work on the interactions between intention, motor command and afferent input and show how these interact to allow the emergence of a coherent awareness of intention and its consequences. Experiments with subjects with neurological impairments (peripheral losses and higher cortical dysfunctions), have revealed deficits between intention and its consequences. Work on the mechanisms of affective touch has revealed a sensory system concerned not only with movement control or discriminative touch but with the emotional aspects of touch. These two areas of work come together in addressing how action and sensation may be involved in the emergence of a sense of the somatic self; in a motor context from comparison between intention and perception of action, and in an affective one from appropriate sensory stimulation.

 

Symposia Location Key

LT 1 Babbage Lecture Theatre (New Museums Site)
LT 2 Cockcroft Lecture Theatre (New Museums Site)
LT 3 Main Physiology Lecture Theatre (Downing Site)
LT 4 Main Anatomy Lecture Theatre (Downing Site)
LT 5 Biffin Lecture Theatre (Downing Site)
LT 6 Physiology Lecture Theatre 3 (Downing Site)
LT 7 Arts School Room B (New Museums Site)
LT 8 Arts School Room C (New Museums Site)