Micro-movement as physical signature of movement intention in work of choreographer Myriam Gourfink

A micro-movement paradigm that distinguishes goal-directed from goal-less movement in Autistic children was adapted to study intentionality of movement in dancers. Dancers were trained in Myriam Gourfink's technique, whose work is characterized by constant and heightened awareness of the body and its movement. In past studies using the forward-and-retracting structure of pointing motions [2], the instructed motor segment deliberately intended toward the target had a statistical signature of intentionality, measured with inertial measurement units, that differed from that of the uninstructed motions. The latter tend to occur largely below the threshold of awareness. We hypothesize that the dancers' uninstructed, goal-less movements will have signatures closely resembling those of the instructed goal-directed movement. We expect this to be particularly true after training.