On the Law for Minimal Discrimination of Intensities

Abstract

Sensory discrimination of 2 just recognizably different intensities I 1 and [image]2 is governed by the fact that the just discriminable [DELTA]I is directly proportional to, and determined by [sigma]I2. The properties of the data of sensory discrimination arise from the essentially statistical (i.e., probability) character of the basis for comparison between the effects due to I 2 and the variable capacity of the organism to give a statistically distinguishable effect under the action of a compared I 2. The governance of [DELTA]I by [sigma]I2 is independent of any specific properties of a particular peripheral or central sensory mechanism.