Muscle activation color information facilitates visual perception in action observation and motor imagery

This eye-tracking study investigates how simulated muscle activation color visualization shapes visual perception during Action Observation and Motor Imagery (AO + MI) for motor skill learning. In a mixed-design experiment (N = 40), we manipulated visual cues (with/without muscle colors) and task type (AO/AO + MI) to examine their effects on gaze behavior and cognitive load. Results indicate that while pure AO induced a higher cognitive load (evidenced by larger pupil diameters), the experimental group receiving muscle color cues exhibited longer fixations, larger saccades, and more structured, efficient scanpaths, with attention directed toward key upper limb and torso areas. These findings demonstrate that muscle-based visualization enhances the extraction of critical kinematic information and optimizes attentional allocation, thereby facilitating more effective cognitive-motor integration during AO + MI. This provides empirical evidence for refining motor learning protocols through integrated visual-cognitive strategies.