Neutral Point in Haptic Perception of Softness

Abstract Haptic perception of objects’ softness plays an important role in the identification and interaction with objects. How is represented brain yet not clear. Here we investigated whether there a neutral point perceptual representation haptically perceived relative to which objects are as being “soft” or “hard”. We created wide range stimuli, varying from very hard (ceramic) soft foam differently silicone stimuli between. Participants were assigned one three different stimulus set conditions: full (18 stimuli), (13 softest stimuli) hardest stimuli). They categorized each “hard” estimated subjectively equal categorization “soft”. found that points middle set. Furthermore, during course experiment rather moved away than towards it. Our results indicate might be softness, however effects may play role.