Cite as:
Symmons M A, Richardson B L, Wuillemin D B, 2007, "Intrasensory attention: Kinaesthetic versus cutaneous inputs" Perception 36(6) 880 – 887
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Intrasensory attention: Kinaesthetic versus cutaneous inputs

Mark A Symmons, Barry L Richardson, Dianne B Wuillemin

Received 3 August 2005, in revised form 25 August 2006; published online 8 June 2007

Abstract. Blindfolded participants felt pairs of raised-line drawings simultaneously, one with each index finger. The stimuli presented at each fingertip were 180° rotations of each other (eg 6 and 9). One finger moved (either actively or passively), and this in turn caused movement of a matched raised line underneath the stationary finger on the other hand, in a yoked manner. Thus, a 6 at the moving finger would be felt as a 9 on the stationary finger. On all trials there was a raised line moving underneath the stationary fully passive finger. For the moving finger, a raised line was present on only half of the trials. When a raised line could be felt at the moving fingertip, the shape followed by this finger was more often reported than was the shape present at the other (stationary) fingertip. However, when no line was present under the moving finger (ie when movement became the major cue for shape), subjects reported experiencing the shape moved under the stationary fingertip. Results are interpreted as an indication that cutaneous information can be more ‘attention-getting’ than kinaesthetic information, and are considered to support the modality-appropriateness theory.

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