Early
experimental psychology has its root
on neighboring scientific
disciplines, especially physiology
and physics. Wundt's main research
interests reflect the academic
atmosphere of this early
experimental psychology. A majority
of research work conducted in
Wundt's lab concerns topics of
psychophysics and sensations,
suggesting that Wundt was strongly
influenced by the main leaders of
early experimental psychology,
Fechner and Helmholtz.
Fechner pointed out that progress in
investigations of psychophysical
problems has been accompanied by a
growing demand for the production of
uniform and precisely controlled
sensory stimuli in all of the
sensory provinces (for example,
devices producing sounds whose
loudness can be varied [Fallphonometer],
photometers, weights for experiments
on sensations of tactile pressure,
and so on). Another important topic
for research is sensation quality,
particularly with respect to the
specification of the individual
sensory modalities involved.
Therefore, it is natural that
Wundt's lab was equipped with
various and sophisticated
instruments which addresses the main
focus of psychophysical and
sensational studies.
The
inventory of psychological apparatus
that is used in acoustic experiments
is clearly different from that
associated with laboratory work in
physics and physiology. For example,
the Leipzig laboratory has a set of
tuning forks which
range in a large number of small
steps from tones of 32 vibrations to
2,024 vibrations; from 2,024
vibrations upwards, the tuning forks
range by rather larger steps up to
60,000 vibrations, including the use
of small tuning forks and pipes for
those tones known from earlier
research to be clearly audible. This
set of tuning forks was manufactured
partly in the workshops of R. König
in Paris, and partly by G. and A.
Appun in Hanau. In addition, the
laboratory possesses a so-called
Appun tone measurer [Tonmesser]
that can respond to the frequencies
of reed-pipe tones between 32 and
1,024 vibrations inclusive, and an
overtone apparatus that can respond
to each of the 60 overtones
associated with a low C (32
vibrations). There are also several
devices for studying chords produced
by lip- or tongue-operated pipes,
devices whereby individual
difference tones and overtones can
be amplified.
Wundt's lab also possesses, in
addition to the usual photometric
apparatus, a larger apparatus for
the splitting and mixing of the
colors of the prismatic spectrum, as
well as a Helmholtz
color-mixer (located in room
4), etc.
Another category of
apparatus concerns physiology, but
the instruments are occasionally
modified so as to be appropriate for
specific purposes related to
psychology. These include apparatus
for the graphical representation of
the pulse rate, the breathing rate,
and any variations in blood vessel
volume that are associated with the
innervations of those vessels. Also
deserving of special mention are
several instruments used in
analogous experiments involving
vocalization, notably a recording
device that represents the throat
movements produced during
vocalization. The device has been
described by Krueger and Wirth. All
of this instrumentation, especially
the plethysmographic,
sphygmographic, and pneumographic
recording devices, are used under
very specific conditions that are
determined by the psychological
application in question; they serve
as the main means whereby
physiological signs associated with
feelings and affects can be
measured.
