An experimental quantification of kinesthetic sensation: extent of movement

Abstract

Especially lacking for kinesthesis is knowledge concerning the nature of its psychophysical relationships. With a few exceptions there has not been developed for kinesthetic sensation the scales of sensory magnitude, as found for other sense modalities. Accordingly, an experiment was conducted for the purpose of quantifying an attribute of kinesthetic sensation, namely extent of movement. Using a similar approach to sensory quantification as that employed by S.S. Stevens, a ratio scale of sensory magnitude for this attribute 'was developed employing blind positioning movements and the psychophysical techniques of magnitude estimation and ratio production. Blind positioning movements being free of other sensory cues, provide a direct index of kinesthetic sensitivity. [TRUNCATED]