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Recent advances in computer technologies and research now enable to simulate realistic social interaction thanks to the use of increasingly complex computer models. Virtual agents reproducing both human appearance and expressive behaviors are now available for supporting affective interactions with users. Two deeply intertwined fields of knowledge already benefit from such innovations concerning virtual agents and affective computing: psychiatry and social neurosciences. Indeed, these techniques offer a good compromise between reproducibility and ecological validity when designing paradigms that address complex issues such as human interaction, intersubjectivity or social behavior. Firstly, the use of virtual reality may boost research in the field of social neurosciences which requires naturalistic, although reproducible, experimental situations of increasing complexity. In the past recent years, many researches shed light on contextual effects that may influence social judgments/interactions and the related disorders. New techniques such as virtual expressive agents and computational models of emotions and social interaction offer new ways to address the issues of the social cues (e.g. facial expressions, bodily expressions, etc.) that are integrated by a person while he/she performs empathetic evaluation, mentalizing (theory of mind or mental state attribution), agency judgments, etc. Although its potential for psychological experimentation is obvious, no consensus on experimental methods in virtual interfaces has been reached yet. The almost infinite degrees of freedom of experimental paradigms make it difficult to rely on traditional designs. Indeed, interactive settings require taking into account the unpredictable and even chaotic dynamics that arise from multiple agent interactions. Secondly, considering the therapeutic use of virtual agents or affective computing technologies, the main asset of these techniques relies on the possibility to reproduce interactive social situations without the threatening or distressing consequences of such situations in the real world. For instance, cognitive rehabilitation is already investigated with schizophrenic and autistic participants within virtual immersive environments. It appears that theoretical insights and experimental data are necessary to address the issues of effectiveness, acceptability, motivation, and to better integrate these innovations within integrated remediation programs. Keeping in mind the very innovative nature of the fields described here, the aim of the present topic is to delineate the added value of expressive virtual agents and affective computing techniques for the experimentation on naturalistic social interactions and/or for the remediation of social cognition disorders.

Social interaction --- Cognition disorders --- Cognition disorders --- Cognitive psychology. --- Computer simulation. --- Social aspects. --- Treatment. --- virtual reality --- social cognition --- Mental Disorders --- Schizophrenia --- augmented reality --- Avatar --- autism --- Affective Computing --- cognitive training

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Recent advances in computer technologies and research now enable to simulate realistic social interaction thanks to the use of increasingly complex computer models. Virtual agents reproducing both human appearance and expressive behaviors are now available for supporting affective interactions with users. Two deeply intertwined fields of knowledge already benefit from such innovations concerning virtual agents and affective computing: psychiatry and social neurosciences. Indeed, these techniques offer a good compromise between reproducibility and ecological validity when designing paradigms that address complex issues such as human interaction, intersubjectivity or social behavior. Firstly, the use of virtual reality may boost research in the field of social neurosciences which requires naturalistic, although reproducible, experimental situations of increasing complexity. In the past recent years, many researches shed light on contextual effects that may influence social judgments/interactions and the related disorders. New techniques such as virtual expressive agents and computational models of emotions and social interaction offer new ways to address the issues of the social cues (e.g. facial expressions, bodily expressions, etc.) that are integrated by a person while he/she performs empathetic evaluation, mentalizing (theory of mind or mental state attribution), agency judgments, etc. Although its potential for psychological experimentation is obvious, no consensus on experimental methods in virtual interfaces has been reached yet. The almost infinite degrees of freedom of experimental paradigms make it difficult to rely on traditional designs. Indeed, interactive settings require taking into account the unpredictable and even chaotic dynamics that arise from multiple agent interactions. Secondly, considering the therapeutic use of virtual agents or affective computing technologies, the main asset of these techniques relies on the possibility to reproduce interactive social situations without the threatening or distressing consequences of such situations in the real world. For instance, cognitive rehabilitation is already investigated with schizophrenic and autistic participants within virtual immersive environments. It appears that theoretical insights and experimental data are necessary to address the issues of effectiveness, acceptability, motivation, and to better integrate these innovations within integrated remediation programs. Keeping in mind the very innovative nature of the fields described here, the aim of the present topic is to delineate the added value of expressive virtual agents and affective computing techniques for the experimentation on naturalistic social interactions and/or for the remediation of social cognition disorders.

Social interaction --- Cognition disorders --- Cognition disorders --- Cognitive psychology. --- virtual reality --- social cognition --- Mental Disorders --- Schizophrenia --- augmented reality --- Avatar --- autism --- Affective Computing --- cognitive training --- Computer simulation. --- Social aspects. --- Treatment. --- virtual reality --- social cognition --- Mental Disorders --- Schizophrenia --- augmented reality --- Avatar --- autism --- Affective Computing --- cognitive training

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• Reference Manager
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There is now strong evidence demonstrating that the brain simulates action and other functions. Such action simulation can be evoked through conscious mental rehearsal of movement or imagery, but also through passive action observation watching movements in others. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that mental rehearsal of movement, or mental practice, can produce improvements normally attributed to practising actual movements. It is currently assumed that such improvements are due to neural activation associated with action simulation. However the neuroscience of mental practice efficacy is still poorly understood. The aim of this research topic is to clarify the underlying mechanisms of mental practice, bringing evidence from cognitive neuroscience, experimental neuropsychology, sport and movement science, and clinical neurology. It also attempts to address confusion regarding the concepts of imagery and observation, which has hampered the progression of mental practice research both scientifically and applied. As well as reviews, theoretical, and position articles, this research topic includes original neuroimaging, experimental, and patient research addressing, among others, the following issues. Neuroimaging studies provide strong evidence for action simulation, but the link to behavioural change and functional outcome is weak. What is the evidence that mental practice efficacy is driven by neuroplasticity processes evoked by action simulation? This research topic includes contributions on neural correlates and behaviour with regards to imagery and action observation. Much of the mental practice efficacy evidence comes from longstanding research within sport science. However, what does mental practice entail in these contexts, and to what extent is it compatible with the cognitive neuroscience perspective of action simulation? This research topic will include contributions that consider both evidence and concepts with regards to imagery and action observation, in an attempt to build an interdisciplinary consensus on the nature and application of mental practice. Mental practice is perceived as a promising motor rehabilitation technique, but critically there is lack of clarity or consensus on what mental practice treatment should entail. It is also not clear what are the most appropriate outcomes to measure imagery ability and cognitive or behavioural change following mental practice. A further important issue that needs consideration as part of this research topic is dosage, as it is currently unclear how much mental practice is appropriate and whether this depends on patient variables such as age, cognitive functioning, motor function, or pathophysiology.

Mental Practice --- Cognitive neuroscience --- action simulation --- action observation --- imagery