Absolute scaling of sensory magnitudes: a validation.

Abstract

The hypothesis that, in magnitude estimation and production, subjects tend to pair numbers with sensation magnitudes on absolute rather than ratio scales is tested experimentally. This implies that not only sensations, but also numbers acquire absolute psychological magnitudes. The specific experiments are performed on loudness and line lengths. The latter reveal that the subjective magnitudes of numbers are formed before the age of 6 and do not change after that age. It is suggested that the absolute coupling of numbers with sensation magnitudes originates from the concept of numerosity where numbers have absolute meanings. This work was supported by N1H Grant NS-03950.