Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 25, 2025

Applying Incongruent Visual-Tactile Stimuli during Object Transfer with Vibro-Tactile Feedback
Published on: May 23, 2019
Effects of Asymmetric Vibration Frequency on Pulling Illusions
Takeshi Tanabe1, Hiroshi Endo2, Shuichi Ino1
1Human Informatics and Interaction Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Central 6, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba 305-8566, Japan.
Abstract:
It is known that humans experience a haptic illusion, such as the sensation of being pulled in a particular direction, when asymmetric vibrations are presented. A pulling illusion has been used to provide a force feedback for a virtual reality (VR) system and a pedestrian navigation system, and the asymmetric vibrations can be implemented in any small non-grounded device. However, the design methodology of asymmetric vibration stimuli to induce the pulling illusion has not been fully demonstrated. Although the frequency of the asymmetric vibration is important, findings on the frequency have not been reported. In this study, we clarified the influences of the effects on the pulling illusion based on the investigation of asymmetric vibration frequency differences. Two psychophysical experiments that related to the frequency of asymmetric vibration were performed. Experiment I showed that the illusion occurs for specific vibration waveforms at 40 Hz and 75 Hz. As a result of Experiment II, the threshold was the lowest when the frequency was 40 Hz, and highest when the frequency was 110 Hz. This result supports the previous hypothesis that the Meissner corpuscles and the Ruffini endings contribute to the illusion, while the Pacinian corpuscles do not.
Related Concept Videos
Concept of Resonance and its Characteristics
Forced Oscillations
Muscle Stimulation Frequency
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...
IR Spectrum Peak Splitting: Symmetric vs Asymmetric Vibrations
Torsional Pendulum
As long as the rigid body's angular displacement is small, its oscillation can be modeled as a linear angular oscillation. The amplitude of the oscillation is an angle. The role of mass is played...
Standing Waves

