Moving without travelling

September 10, 2009 5:49 PM

Is there a name for the sensation of being compelled forward you feel immediately after spending signficant time on a treadmill/running machine?

Bonus sensation question - is there a name for the odd sensation you get when stepping onto a broken escalator?

posted by Neale to Science & Nature (10 answers total)

I bet there is a name for it. I don't know what. But I suspect it is closely related to the continued sensation of bobbing/rocking you feel after returning to dry land after any extended period on a small boat.

One thing about escalators is that the step depth is actually creater than you're used to on regular stairs, so it that can make the climbing of them feel a little 'off'.
posted by sycophant at 5:56 PM on September 10, 2009

Suddenly I also wonder if it's like the freaky over-lifting thing that happens when you pick up something you believe to be much heavier than it is (an empty softdrink can you believe to be full, for instance).
posted by sycophant at 5:57 PM on September 10, 2009

it could be lumped into the category of Sensory Gain Adaptation, along with phenomena like visual after-images. Your brain gets used to sending the "run" message to your muscles, but not going anywhere. So when the same process suddenly results in motion, it feels like the motion is happening on its own.
posted by scose at 6:00 PM on September 10, 2009

Momentum?
posted by iamkimiam at 6:03 PM on September 10, 2009

Sensory adaptation. Similar to the visual adaptation of moving images from playing too much Guitar Hero.
posted by Durin's Bane at 6:08 PM on September 10, 2009

Best answer: Here's an academic paper on the "broken escalator phenomenon" (pdf). Terms in the paper include "motor aftereffect," "gait adaptation," and "knowledge-action dissociation." More on Google Scholar
posted by zsazsa at 6:28 PM on September 10, 2009 [3 favorites]

Relativity?
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 6:35 PM on September 10, 2009

Response by poster: I'm not sure that sensory adaptation is on the mark - at least not what I read from the link provided. Is there any other literature on the subject?

Zsazsa's link on the "broken escalator phenomenon" is bang on. Who knew so much research had been made into the subject?
posted by Neale at 6:49 PM on September 10, 2009

I wonder if it's related to velocitization?
posted by jacquilynne at 9:28 PM on September 10, 2009

Not an answer, but I just wanted to point out a quick way to recreate this sensation.

Stand inside a doorway and press your arms out (arms down, palms in) against it with a good amount of force, holding it for about 30-60 seconds. When you stop, it will feel like your arms are trying to float up.
posted by orme at 7:59 AM on September 11, 2009