A Possible Proximity Effect on Human Grip Strength: An Attempted Replication

Abstract

A double-blind experiment with 50 adults was conducted to replicate a finding that proximity to sugar reduces human grip strength. Grip strength of the dominant hand was measured by a chart-recording hand dynamometer for 12 trials. For half of the trials, the subject held an opaque, sealed bottle containing sugar; for half of the trials, the subject held a control bottle of equal weight containing sand. Statistical analysis indicated no significant effect of held substance upon grip strength.