Perceived Weight Is Affected by Auditory Pitch Not Loudness

Abstract

This study examined whether auditory pitch and loudness affect the perception of object’s weight. Two series experiments showed that the object with High-Pitch sound was perceived as being lighter than the object with Low-Pitch sound and that the perceived weight was not affected by loudness. Because auditory pitch has a relationship to the weight of an object while loudness has a relationship to the distance of a placed object, the perceived weight was affected by auditory pitch not loudness. Given these results, perhaps sound effects may make it easier to carry heavy luggage?