Abstract
It is shown that the dependence of the Weber fraction, ΔI/I, on I determines the form of the neural firing rate function N(I) provided that the relation between ΔN and N is given. Here, ΔN is the change in average firing rate resulting from an intensity jnd. The firing rate function consistent with Weber's law is predicted when ΔN ∼ N1/2. Assuming that loudness is proportional to the neural firing rate, loudness equations are constructed for two stimuli where Weber's law is obeyed and empirical loudness functions are available. These stimuli are (1) a 100‐Hz tone partially masked by an adjacent high‐pass noise and (2) broadband noise. Close agreement between the derived and measured loudness functions is obtained. The procedure also predicts a power law for loudness, with a generalization, when the near miss to Weber's law is represented by a power function. [Partially supported by the Rehabilitation Research and Development Service of the VA.]
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