Co-creative expression — Duality of embodied interaction focused on generation of sympathetic awareness

The eventual goal of this study is to establish a method to enhance implicit embodiment and support for co-creation of expression with others. As a first step, we studied how implicit embodiment relevant to the creation of expressions is represented in the body movement during Hand Contact Improvisation. Experiments were carried out using skilled person of improvised bodily expressions as subjects. When the subject performed expression by her hand with creating mental image, it was found that the back movement precedes the board movement. In particular, it was found that the amount of time by which the movements of both subjects' backs preceded the slidable board movement was large in proportion to the entire period of the trial performance. The results suggests that there is an implicit process preceding an explicit process in the bodies creating the expression mutually and that both performers can share an image and co-create an expression based on a sense of sympathetic embodied awareness through the dual interaction with synchronic emergence of the implicit and explicit processes. Next, we have focused on fluctuation as a means to enhance implicit embodiment. Hence, a device was developed to present load fluctuation to the hands of test subjects arbitrarily. Effects of load fluctuation were evaluated using measurement results of the entire body and subjective evaluation. The results suggested that by presenting a fluctuation which has little effect on the consciousness, implicit embodiment of performer can be activated, and connection between both can be strengthened.