Integrating sensory-motor and social dynamics: multisensory processing and social factors in interpersonal interactions

Human interaction with others requires the integration of sensory-motor and cognitive processes. In social contexts, coordinating actions with a partner depends on mechanisms such as prediction and adaptation, which are influenced by multisensory and motor information. To create unified perceptual experiences and interact efficiently, the brain must integrate inputs from various sensory modalities. Conversely, social perception and contextual factors also influence our sensorimotor experience. This thesis examines whether interpersonal motor interactions affect multisensory processing, with a specific focus on the integration of visual and tactile stimuli, and motor control during or after joint actions. It also explores how social variables, such as conversational contexts, shape interpersonal representation processes after linguistic interaction. The findings discussed in the present work highlight how dynamic social, linguistic and sensorimotor information modulate perception and action, offering insights into the mechanisms that underpin human interactions.