On the Multisensory Experience of Humidity: A Multidisciplinary and Multicultural Perspective

In this narrative historical review, we take a critical look at the multisensory experience of atmospheric moisture. While not sensed directly (rather, at its most basic, it is a touch blend), this sensation, which can be either positive or negatively valenced (in part, depending on whether we are in charge of the experience), reflects an inference about the environmental conditions as potentially assessed at the skin surface. The perception of humidity has been largely ignored by the long history of research on tactile psychophysics and instead appears only recently in the writings of environmental psychologists. Nevertheless, the perception of humidity is likely to become a growing environmental issue (e.g., in the era of global climate change). We look at the multisensory influences on the perception of humidity, a crucial component of thermal comfort, and possible individual, group, and cultural differences.