Abstract
This study was takcn up to investigate the problem of so-called synaesthesia and was intended to determine experimentally the orders of apparent warmth and heaviness of colours.
I Apparent warmth.
Tree methods were used and the results were as follows:
a. The order of merit method. 18 subjects were asked to arrange the coloured papers (10cm2) into a series ranging from th warm color to the cold.
R→O→Y→V→G→W→Be→Bk.
(R: red, O: orange, Y: yellow, V: violet, G: green, W: white, Be: blue, Bk: black)
b. Paired comparison method.
[Comparison of the coloured cards] 50 subjects.
R→O→Y→V→G→Be→Bk→W
[Comparison of the coloured fluids] Two beakers, identical in their form and volume, were filled with differently coloured waters equivalent in temperature The subject was asked to dip his fingers of both hands in each beaker at the same time and to judge the warmth of colored waters. Number of subjects: 10-20.
R→O→Y→G→V→Bk→Be→W.
II. Apparent heaviness
Similar in methods as in I..
a. The order of merit method. Similar to I-a. Nnumber of subjects 15.
Bk→Be→R→V→O→G→Y→W
b. paired comparision method.
[Comparison of the coloured cards] Circular cards were cut along their radius and a couple of them were put together at notch. The areas of both cards must be equal in one disc. Subjects were asked to tell when the slowly rotating coloured disc appeared the most stable. Subjects: 50.
Bk→Be→V→R→O→G→Y→W
[Comparison of coloured little boxes] Materials were coloured boxes (each 10cm3). Their weights were made equal when sand was put in them. Procedure: Subjects were asked to lift two boxes simultaneously with each hand. Subjects: 19.
Bk→R→Be→V→G→O→Y→W.
From the above results we arrived at the following conclusions. The order of apparent warmth of colour was:
R→O→Y→V→G→Bk→Be→W.
Excepting achromatic colours (W and Bk), this is roughly in accordance with the order of wave-lengths of light. In the case of apparent heaviness, the order was:
Bk→Be→R→V→O→G→Y→W.
Except achromatic colours, this order corresponds roughly with the inverse, order of apparent brightness.
