Abstract
Two experiments examine whether or not somesthetic images of muscular tension influence direction-judgment times within an imaginary space. In the narratives presented to the participants, each protagonist adopted one of four postures: (a) standing, (b) hanging by hands, (c) upside-down on hands, and (d) hanging upside-down by legs. It is expected that postures (b) and (c) would evoke images of unusual tension in the arms and antigravity muscles. The participants in Experiment 1 were requested to adopt an outside perspective towards the protagonists. In Experiment 2, the participants were requested to adopt an inside perspective by identifying themselves with the protagonists. Reaction times were measured for answering questions about the names of items assumed to exist at designated directions from the protagonists. In Experiment 1, there were significant effects for posture (upright/upside-down) and for the interaction between tension, posture, and direction. However, no significant effects, apart from for direction, were observed in Experiment 2. The functional relations between somesthetic images and perspectives within imaginary space are discussed.
