Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

A Simple Non-invasive Method for Temporary Knockdown of Upper Limb Proprioception
Published on: March 3, 2018
Ames's window in proprioception
Nicola Bruno1, Alessandro Dell'Anna, Alessandra Jacomuzzi
1Department of Psychology and BRAIN Centre for Neuroscience, University of Trieste, Italy. nick@psico.univ.trieste.it
Abstract:
When holding a small-scale model of Ames's trapezoidal window with the arms fully extended, several observers experience a striking proprioceptive distortion (eg one hand appears farther from the other, or one arm appears longer than the other). However, data from a matching experiment suggest that the proprioceptive misalignment of the hands is, in fact, rather less than the apparent slant of the window when this is not held. This finding argues against a 'visual-capture' account, supports an explanation in terms of bimodal integrative processes, and underscores the importance of supplementing phenomenological observations with objective measures.
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