n-Dimensional Nonlinear Psychophysics Theory and Case Studies Psychology Revivals Series

Originally published in 1992, this work compliments and extends the theory and results of nonlinear psychophysics ? an original approach created by the author. It breaks with the traditional mathematics used in the experimental psychology of sensation and draws on what is popularly known as chaos theory and its extension into neural networks. Topical and innovative in its approach, it integrates a diversity of topics previously treated separately into one framework.

The properties of the mathematics used are illustrated in the context of substantive problems in psychophysics; thus, it builds strong new bridges between the dynamics of mass action in psychophysical processes and the broader phenomena of sensation. No other treatments of the topic take quite this approach; the use of systems theory, rather than traditional equations of psychophysics dating from the mid-nineteenth century, offers a striking contrast in both theory construction and data analysis.

Preface. 1. Definitions in Psychophysics and Psychophysical Systems 2. Nonlinear Psychophysical Dynamics in n Dimensions 3. Theoretical Response Latency Distributions; Stopping or Dropping Out? 4. Sequential Dynamics of Transposition Phenomena 5. Variations in the Dynamics of One Component 6. Stability in Three-Dimensional Psychophysics 7. Hypoadditivity and Cross-Coupling and Analogues of the Bunsen-Roscoe Law 8. The Analysis of Nonlinear Binary Mixtures 9. Nonlinearity and Nonstationarity 10. Inputs Extended and Superimposed in Time 11. Properties of 2-d Networks with Nonlinear Pixels and Phase Unlocking. Technical Appendix 1: Can There be an Inverse Psychophysical Function? Technical Appendix 2: The Zehfuss Determinant and its Operation in n Dimensions. References and Bibliography. Subject Index. Author Index.