It has now been found that people who have similar behaviour characteristics tend to use their hands in a similar way, although all people display individual hand movements using different hand signals with varying speed and force .
A research paper by Słowinnski et al., published at the Royal Society Publishing has demonstrated that the individual motor signature (IMS) doesn't change with time and shows how it can be used to study sociomotor coordination. The research is based on the similarity theory; people with similar movements find it easier to communicate with someone who matches their own behaviour and looks, i.e. birds of a feather stick together.
The researchers have now been able to test this in controlled experiments where two people sit opposite each other and try to imitate the other person's movements and found that it is possible to detect even small movements with the hands and classify them. The findings by Slowinnski et al. cement the theory of similarity, which the project AlterEgo bases its work on and it is the key to success.
Patients suffering from social phobias, schizophrenia or autism often find it difficult to talk to other people or making themselves understood. AlterEgo is using avatars to help them overcome their difficulties in interacting with other people designing therapies matching the individual patients' needs. Not only could the findings be used to diagnose social disorders, such as schizophrenia or autism, avoiding invasive tests and CT scans, but the research will lead to more efficient and individual treatment helping the patients to improve interaction with others.
The AlterEgo project is led by Université de Montpellier of France and has partners from Switzerland, UK, Germany and France.
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