Elevator illusion: Influences of otolith organ activity and neck proprioception

Abstract

Each of nine Ss experienced gravitational-inertial forces (GIFs) of 1.00, 1.25, 1.50, and 1.75 G z with his head erect and pitched forward at angles of 15 and 30 deg. The magnitude of the elevator illusion was shown to depend on both the intensity of the GIFs and the orientation of the head. Contributions of otolith organ activity and of neck proprioception to the illusion were examined, and theoretical baseg for their influences were discussed. © 1973 Psychonomic Society, Inc.