To fully understand the relationship between Mind, Body and Environment, Human Subject Research is of utmost importance. Hence we are looking for participants to contribute their time and effort to our research projects.
For studies that are currently recruiting participants, please see the information below.
If you have already participated in one of our studies, a full list of our former calls can be found HERE or on the [Former calls] menu. There you will find all information provided during the call for participation and information about our publications that are based on them.
We currently have open calls for participants in 2 experiments.
① Investigation of the Sense of Agency and metacognition in active and passive control
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this study is to investigate how human perception and cognition change when a person moves their arm freely by themselves (active movement) compared to when their arm is moved by an external device (passive movement).
We aim to clarify the mechanisms by which people perceive and recognize their own movements.
Experimental Procedure
In this experiment, a computer display and an experimental device used to manipulate objects displayed on the screen will be used.
Task
Participants will operate the device to move two shapes displayed on the screen (a circle and a square) for 5 seconds.
Discrimination and Evaluation
After the movement ends, participants will answer the question:
“Which of the two shapes’ movements matched your own arm movement (sensation) more closely?”
In addition, participants will rate their confidence in their answer on a four-point scale.
This procedure will be repeated multiple times under different conditions.
Experimental Conditions
The experiment will be conducted under the following two conditions:
Active condition: Participants freely operate the device themselves.
Passive condition: The device moves automatically, and the participant’s arm is moved by the device.
During the experiment, your arm movements, the selected shape, and your confidence ratings will be recorded.
The device used in this experiment is described in the document titled “Exp equipment environment.”
In addition, important information regarding the experiment is provided below. Please be sure to read it carefully before participating.
This study aims to understand how people become aware of others through very simple forms of interaction. By using a minimal virtual environment, we focus on basic processes of social interaction without relying on vision or language.
Experimental Procedure
Two participants take part together in a cooperative experiment. They interact via a computer interface using a dedicated device while receiving clear instructions and completing brief questionnaires. All measurements are non-invasive, and participants can stop at any time.
Task
Participants move within a shared virtual space using the device. They receive vibration feedback when they encounter elements in the environment and respond based on their experience during the interaction.
Discrimination and Evaluation
Participants make judgments during the task based on limited sensory information. To avoid influencing behavior, detailed evaluation criteria and research hypotheses are not explained before participation. A full explanation is provided after the experiment.
Experimental Conditions
The experiment is conducted in a carefully controlled setting with minimal sensory input. This allows us to study interaction behavior under simple and well-defined conditions while ensuring participant safety and comfort.
Time Commitment and Compensation
The experiment takes approximately three hours to complete. Participants will receive a 3,000‑yen Amazon gift card as compensation.
In addition, important information regarding the experiment is provided below. Please be sure to read it carefully before participating.
General Information EN 2025.03.19