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A gravitational contribution to perceived body weight.
E R Ferrè1, T Frett2, P Haggard3
1Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway, University of London, London, UK. e.ferre@rhul.ac.uk.
Scientific Reports
|August 9, 2019
Summary
Astronauts
Area of Science:
- Human physiology
- Gravitational biology
- Sensory perception
Background:
- Body weight on Earth is defined by mass and gravitational acceleration.
- Previous research on weight perception primarily focused on social factors.
- The influence of gravity on perceived body weight remains underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that perceived body weight is dependent on gravitational force.
- To determine if experimentally altered gravity affects the subjective experience of body weight.
Main Methods:
- Participants estimated the weight of their hand and head under varying gravitational conditions.
- Gravitational conditions included normal gravity (1g), microgravity (0g), and hypergravity (up to 1.8g).
- Experiments utilized parabolic flight and a short-arm human centrifuge.
Main Results:
- Perceived body weight increased in hypergravity and decreased in microgravity.
- These changes were observed for specific body parts (hand and head).
- Experimental gravity alterations induced rapid shifts in perceived weight.
Conclusions:
- Perceived body weight is significantly influenced by the immediate sensory signals from gravity.
- Body weight perception is highly malleable and not solely determined by social factors.
- Sensory input related to gravity plays a crucial role in the experience of body weight.
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