INTRODUCTION PSYCHOLOGY

Introduction Psychology



Introduction Psychology

Define psychophysics and summarize the contributions of Fechner and Weber

Psychophysics The Weber -Fechner Principle: An Approximate psychological law relating the degree of response or sensation of a sense organ and the intensity of the stimulus. The law asserts that equal increments of sensation are associated with equal increments of the logarithm of the stimulus? or that the just noticeable difference in any sensation results from a change in the stimulus? which bears a constant ratio to the value of the stimulus. (Dayan, 2000) Ernst Heinrich Weber (1795-1878) Weber was the first German anatomist and physiologist to introduce the concept of the just-noticeable difference? which is the smallest observable difference between two similar stimuli. From 1818 until 1871 Weber was a professor at the University of Leipzig. Weber is best known for his work on the sensory response to weight? temperature? and pressure. Weber stated that? in order for any increase in the intensity of the stimulus a threshold of sensation must be passed. The ratio Weber discovered was the total intensity of sensation? rather than an absolute figure. Weber's observations were formed mathematically by Gustav Theodor Fechner? which he later called Weber's law. (Dayan, 2000)

Summarize the workings of either the visual or hearing system.

Each eye sees a part of the visual space that defines its visual field. The visual fields of both eyes overlap extensively to create a binocular visual field. The total visual field is the sum of the right and left hemifields and consists of a binocular zone and two monocular zones. Just like the visual field is divided into two hemifields? the retina is divided in half? relative to the fovea? into a nasal and a temporal hemiretina. (Jami, 2007) Each hemifield is projected onto the nasal hemiretina of the ipsilateral1 eye and ...