The Standard Model for Perceived Magnitude: A Framework for (Almost) Everything Known About It

Abstract

The psychophysics of perceived magnitude entails three aspects of sensory systems: range of sensitivity (dynamic range [DR]), resolving power (the capacity to resolve small changes in stimulus intensity), and the form of the function relating perceived magnitude to signal strength throughout the DR. A simple model is proposed that integrates what is known about all three aspects into a single framework. According to the model, perceived magnitude is a power function of stimulus strength (S. S. Stevens, 1956), and both the exponent of that function and a measure of resolving power are inversely related to the log of DR (R. Teghtsoonian, 1971). The DR is thought to have a characteristic value for each sensory system and may be estimated directly by measurement of upper and lower limits, or indirectly by estimating the exponent of the power function under optimal conditions. A central feature of the model is that all DRs are assumed to be subjectively equal. It is also suggested that the impression of perceived magnitude may be mediated by a single mechanism, regardless of the sensory system that is activated. It remains to be seen whether brain science is able to identify a neural basis for such a mechanism.