kappa effect

noun

A temporal perceptual illusion that can arise when observers judge the elapsed time between sensory stimuli applied sequentially at different locations. Subjects tend to overestimate the time between stimuli when the distance between the stimuli is large, and to underestimate the time when the distance is small.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounkappa effect (plural kappa effects)

plural kappa effects

  1. A temporal perceptual illusion that can arise when observers judge the elapsed time between sensory stimuli applied sequentially at different locations. Subjects tend to overestimate the time between stimuli when the distance between the stimuli is large, and to underestimate the time when the distance is small.
Cite this entry
APA

kappa effect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kappa%20effect

MLA

“kappa effect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kappa%20effect. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kappa effect,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kappa%20effect.

Source: kappa effect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.