Withholding Response Modulates Perceptual Biases, Alters EEG Signatures

The Brain's Predictive Dance: How Action Shapes Perception

Human perception is not a passive recording of the environment but an active process of prediction and interpretation, where the brain constantly matches sensory input against internal expectations [1]. This perception-action cycle is susceptible to biases from recent experience, a phenomenon known as serial dependence, where past stimuli can either attract or repel current perception [2]. Alterations in this fundamental process are implicated in a range of conditions seen in daily practice, including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder [3], fibromyalgia [4], and post-stroke sensory deficits [5]. A recent study now provides electrophysiological evidence explaining how intentionally interrupting the perception-action cycle can modulate these perceptual biases.

Unpacking Serial Dependence and the Perception-Action Cycle

Perceptual decisions are consistently influenced by recent history, a cognitive shortcut termed serial dependence. This bias can manifest in two opposing ways. The first, attractive serial dependence, pulls a current perception toward a previous one; for example, a vertical line might be perceived as slightly tilted if it follows a tilted line. The second, repulsive serial dependence, pushes a perception away, exaggerating the difference between a current stimulus and a prior one. While these biases may promote perceptual stability, they can also lead to errors. Previous work has suggested that interrupting the typical perception-to-action sequence, for instance by having a person observe a stimulus but withhold a motor response, can alter these effects. Specifically, omitting a response appeared to reduce attractive biases and enhance repulsive ones. The neural mechanisms driving this shift, however, remained undefined, creating a knowledge gap that the current investigation sought to address.

EEG Reveals Electrophysiological Correlates of Response Modulation

To map the neural activity behind these perceptual shifts, researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) while participants performed a visual orientation judgment task. The study first confirmed the behavioral effects: following trials where participants were instructed not to respond, their subsequent judgments showed a reduced attractive bias. In parallel, these no-response trials led to an increased repulsive bias in how they perceived the next stimulus. The EEG data provided a direct window into the underlying brain dynamics. The authors found that trials following a withheld response elicited stronger evoked responses, meaning the brain's initial electrical reaction to the new visual stimulus was significantly larger. Furthermore, the data showed enhanced neural representations of the stimulus, which indicates the brain was encoding the features of the visual object with greater fidelity. These distinct electrophysiological signatures demonstrate a clear neural correlate for the observed change in perceptual bias.

Clinical Implications: Re-engaging Sensory Input

The findings indicate that interrupting the perception-action cycle by omitting a response forces the brain into a state of heightened re-engagement with the present moment. This process actively reshapes perception by diminishing the influence of past stimuli and increasing sensitivity to new sensory information. This is not a passive reset but an active neural adjustment, underpinned by measurable electrophysiological changes, including stronger evoked potentials and higher-fidelity neural encoding. For clinicians, this mechanistic insight is relevant for conditions characterized by atypical sensory processing or maladaptive perceptual patterns. In disorders such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorder, or during post-stroke rehabilitation where perceptual habits can impede recovery, this work provides a rationale for exploring interventions that strategically modulate the perception-action loop. While not a direct therapeutic protocol, the study suggests that tasks designed to periodically break automated response patterns could help retrain the brain to more accurately process sensory input, potentially informing future cognitive and behavioral therapies.

References

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2. Luo J, Ceylan G, Cohen L, Plomp G, Pascucci D. Interrupting the perception-action cycle reshapes serial dependence and sensory processing.. Brain research. 2026. doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2026.150387

3. Lau‐Zhu A, Fritz A, McLoughlin G. Overlaps and distinctions between attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder in young adulthood: Systematic review and guiding framework for EEG-imaging research. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2018. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.10.009

4. Melo-Alonso M, Padilla-Moledo C, Martínez-Sánchez A, et al. Effects of a Strength and Creative Dance Intervention on Brain Electrical Activity, Heart Rate Variability, and Dual-Task Performance in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol. Sports. 2026. doi:10.3390/sports14020059

5. Singh N, Saini M, Kumar N, Srivastava MP, Mehndiratta A. Evidence of neuroplasticity with robotic hand exoskeleton for post-stroke rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation. 2021. doi:10.1186/s12984-021-00867-7