Coupling perception to action through incidental sensory consequences of motor behaviour

Researchers in the field of active perception study how sensory processes coalesce with motor actions to extract information from the world. Such actions intrinsically alter perceptual processing and have intended sensory outcomes, but also lead to incidental sensory consequences, which are side effects of moving the sensory surface to its intended goal. These incidental consequences of actions are generally considered a nuisance to perception that needs to be attenuated or suppressed during movement execution. In this Perspective, we propose instead that incidental sensory consequences of actions shape perceptual processes through action–perception couplings and we review evidence from the domain of active vision. We propose four hallmarks representing the degrees to which actions are an integral part of a perceptual processing architecture. Finally, we outline a research strategy for probing these hallmarks in active perceptual systems and conclude that researchers of perception should embrace the study of action kinematics in pursuit of their questions. Studying action is key for understanding perception because perceptual processes are shaped by movements of the sensory surface. In this Perspective, Rolfs and Schweitzer propose four hallmarks of action–perception coupling and outline a research strategy for the study of action kinematics in perception.