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Weight and mass as psychophysical attributes

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Commentary on LockheadGregory R. (1992) Psychophysical scaling: Judgments of attributes or objects? BBS 15:543–601.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 February 2010

Helen E. Ross
Helen E. Ross*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 ALA, Scotland, h.e.ross@stlrling.ac.uk
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Abstract

In terms of physics, mass is the fixed attribute of an object while weight varies with the accelerative force. Neither weight nor mass are simple sensory stimuli as both involve the integration of sensory and motor information with higher cognitive processes. Studies of apparent heaviness yield only vague information about sensorimotor mechanisms.

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Article Commentary
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Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 18 , Special Issue 3: An International Journal of Current Research and Theory with Open Peer Commentary , September 1995 , pp. 606 - 607
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Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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