The relationship between the kinesthetic spatial aftereffect and variations in muscular involvement during stimulation

Intermittent vs continuous stimulation in the development of kinesthetic spatial aftereffects

“…and most investigators appear to have assumed that continuous rubbing over relatively long periods is necessary to produce maximal KSAEs. For example, Day and Singer (1964) describe the KSAE as a phenomenon "which is dependent on prolonged kinesthetic stimulation." From the point of view of frame of reference theory, however, intermittent contact with the stimulus block should be sufficient to establish the required internal representation of spatial extent.…”

Freedom and restriction of the limbs in the kinesthetic spatial aftereffect

“…The kinesthetic spatial aftereffect (KSAE), investigated recently by Day & Singer (1964) and Singer & requires that S makes a judgment of the kinesthetic horizontal after prior stimulation by a slanted bar. The task involves the rhythmic motion of the hand and arm across the edge of a slanted bar for a prolonged period of time during which distortion of the subjective horizontal plane takes place.…”

“…However, a certain amount of controversy still surrounds the question following the findings of Lloyd & Caldwell(l965) who investigated the accuracy of limb positioning with active and passive muscular movement. A number of studies have been concerned with variations in the amount of muscular involvement in kinesthetic tilt aftereffects (Day & Singer, 1964;Zacks & Freedman, 1963) yet, surprisingly, variations in joint involvement have not been investigated. It is important that some control should be exercised by E over the articulation of the joints of the hand and arm, since the performance of the judgmental task could be dependent upon the freedom of movement of the shoulder, elbow, carpal and phalangeal joints.…”

A kinesthetic spatial aftereffect with pronation of the forearm

“…Generally, three major types of effects have been observed. Gibson (1933;1937) reported a shape aftereffect in the judgment of bent, curved and tilted objects; Kohler & Dinnerstein (1947) reported a size effect when width judgments were made; and Nachmias (1953) reported a displacement effect in the perception of the position of the limb in space.…”

“…The present study was undertaken in order to ascertain whether a KSAE similar in nature to the kinesthetic tilt aftereffect could be produced without movement of the limb during stimulation. Gibson (1937) had found that if the fingers were moved backwards and forwards along the edge of a tilted bar the subsequent presentation of an objectively vertical or horizontal edge appeared to be tilted in the opposite direction. Since the judgment of a horizontal edge involves pronation of the forearm, i.e., rotation of the forearm in order to bring the palmar surface down-Since the completion of this paper it has been found that a similar effect has been previously reported by Thurner (1961).…”