Properties of the size–weight illusion as shown by lines of subjective equality

Abstract

We studied the size–weight illusion through comparative judgments. The experiment had two direct aims: to verify whether the relative contribution of size to apparent heaviness can differ for different stimulus sets, and to verify whether that contribution can differ for different methods of comparing two objects (consecutive vs. simultaneous weighing). Thirty university students participated. Results show that the relative contribution of size depends on stimulus set, but is independent of the method used for comparing objects. The first finding implies that a linear model cannot describe the integration of size and weight information in the illusion; the second finding is evidence for the low-level character of the integration process.