Power Law (Noun)
Meaning
(psychophysics) the concept that the magnitude of a subjective sensation increases proportional to a power of the stimulus intensity.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The loudness of a sound is often described by a power law, where the subjective magnitude of the sensation increases in proportion to the square root of the sound's intensity.
- Several power laws have been identified in the field of psychophysics to describe the relationship between physical stimuli and subjective sensations.
- Studies have shown that the brightness of a light follows a power law, where the subjective magnitude of the sensation increases in proportion to a power less than one of the light's intensity.
- Fechner's law is a specific example of a power law in psychophysics, where the magnitude of a subjective sensation increases in proportion to the logarithm of the stimulus intensity.
- The power law relationship between the physical intensity of a smell and its subjective magnitude can vary greatly from person to person.