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A perceptual analysis of stiffness

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Summary

The perception of stiffness was studied in ten human subjects using two servo-controlled electromagnetic linear motors with computercontrolled stiffness, one motor coupled to each wrist of the subject. Using the contralateral limbmatching procedure in which subjects adjusted the stiffness of the motor connected to one (matching) arm until it was perceived to be the same as that connected to the other (reference) arm, a psychophysical function for stiffness was calculated. Eight different stiffness intensities were matched by subjects with five repetitions at each stimulus amplitude. The relation between the stiffness of the reference and matching motors was linear, and the accuracy with which subjects could match stiffness paralleled that reported previously for force and displacement. The Weber fraction for stiffness was 0.23 which is three times that reported for elbow flexion forces and forearm displacement. These findings were interpreted as indicating that subjects can perceive changes in the stiffness of mechanical devices used to effect action in the environment and that these perceptions are based on sensory signals conveying force and movement information.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Drummond St., H3G 1Y5, Montreal, PQ, Canada

    L. A. Jones

  2. Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, 3654 Drummond St., H3G 1Y5, Montreal, PQ, Canada

    I. W. Hunter

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  1. L. A. Jones
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  2. I. W. Hunter
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Jones, L.A., Hunter, I.W. A perceptual analysis of stiffness. Exp Brain Res 79, 150–156 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00228884

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00228884

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