Getting off on the right (or left) foot: perceiving by means of a rod attached to the preferred or non-preferred foot.

Behavior is typically organized in terms of a goal one intends to achieve rather than in terms of the anatomical components used in doing so. Similarly, perceptual behavior is typically organized in terms of a property one intends to perceive rather than in terms of the anatomical components used in doing so. Such task-specificity and anatomical independence are manifest in perception of properties of wielded objects. We investigated whether these properties are also manifest in perception of properties by means of wielded objects. Blindfolded participants explored an inclined surface with a rod attached to their preferred or non-preferred foot and reported whether they would be able to stand on that surface. Perception reflected action capabilities, but was unaffected by foot used, highlighting the haptic system as a smart perceptual device.