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How Heavy Is an Illusory Length?

Anouk J de Brouwer1, Jeroen B J Smeets2, Myrthe A Plaisier2

  • 1Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.

I-Perception
|October 7, 2016
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Visual illusions can trick our perception of object properties. This study found that a size illusion, using the Müller-Lyer effect, made visually shorter objects feel heavier, demonstrating a link between size perception and weight perception.

Keywords:
Müller–Lyer illusionheaviness perceptionmultisensory perceptionsize-weight illusion

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Perception Science

Background:

  • Perception of object properties like size and weight can be influenced by illusions.
  • The size-weight illusion is a known phenomenon where larger objects are perceived as lighter than smaller objects of the same weight.
  • The influence of visual size illusions on perceived weight remains an area for exploration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if a visual size illusion can induce the size-weight illusion.
  • To determine if manipulating visual size perception affects perceived weight of physically identical objects.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized brass bars of equal density and physical dimensions.
  • Applied cardboard arrowheads to create a visual Müller-Lyer illusion, altering perceived length.
  • Participants judged the perceived weight and length of the manipulated bars.

Main Results:

  • A significant size-weight illusion was induced by the visual size manipulation.
  • Objects visually perceived as shorter were judged to feel heavier.
  • A 5-mm increase in illusory length correlated with a 15-g decrease in perceived weight.

Conclusions:

  • Visual illusions of size can indeed influence perceived weight.
  • The findings suggest a cross-modal interaction where visual cues impact tactile-weight perception.
  • This research provides empirical evidence for the malleability of sensory perception through illusory stimuli.