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Neural gain changes subserving perceptual acuity

L F Jones1, P R Burgess

  • 1Department of Physiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City 84108, USA.

Somatosensory & Motor Research
|January 5, 1999
PubMed
Summary
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The size-weight illusion demonstrates that smaller objects feel heavier than larger ones of equal weight. This study confirms that neural gain changes likely explain these sensory illusions, impacting perceived effort.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Human Perception
  • Biomechanics

Background:

  • The size-weight illusion describes how smaller objects of equal mass are perceived as heavier.
  • The size-effort illusion shows that lifting smaller objects requires more perceived effort.
  • These illusions are hypothesized to stem from neural gain adjustments for sensory acuity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of neural gain changes in sensory illusions related to object size and weight.
  • To determine if adding mass to smaller objects elicits a greater increase in perceived weight and effort compared to larger objects.

Main Methods:

  • Participants lifted small and large objects of equal weight.
  • Perceived weight and required effort were measured.

Related Experiment Videos

  • The effect of adding a standard mass to both object sizes was assessed.

    • Main Results:

    • Consistent with the size-weight and size-effort illusions, small objects were perceived as heavier and required more effort.
    • Adding a standard mass resulted in a significantly larger increase in perceived weight and effort for the small object compared to the large object.
    • Findings support the hypothesis that neural gain modulation underlies these perceptual phenomena.

    Conclusions:

    • The results provide evidence that neural gain adjustments are a key mechanism behind the size-weight and size-effort illusions.
    • These findings contribute to understanding how the brain adapts sensory processing for objects of different sizes to maintain performance.