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Department of Physiology
We study the process of perception generically, rather than with respect to one specific sensory modality. We search for the core of the idea "to perceive" from the philosophical, physiological, physical and psychophysical points of view. A percept of the simplest possible kind is probably the response to a sensory stimulus in the form of pulse, such as a brief flash of light or tone. When dealing with such very simple stimuli, perhaps even a single photon or molecule, it becomes feasible to compare the equations used physiologically or psychophysically to describe the response to the stimulus with the equations of quantum physics that govern its production. The ability to speak generally about perceptual or sensory processes can have powerful consequences. For example, we are able to derive nearly all of the scores of empirical laws of psychophysics from two fundamental equations. Therefore, we understand why increasing the intensity of light by factors of ten increases the brightness of light by approximately equal additive increments (Fechner's law). And we are able to make statements about the sensory systems of all creatures great and small, known or unknown, whether upon our planet or another.
Sagi, E., Wong, W. and Norwich, K.H. Mathematical studies of the information in the stimulus-response matrix. Journal of Mathematical Psychology, 45, 99-114, 2001.
Norwich, K.H. Determination of saltiness from the laws of thermodynamics: Estimating the gas constant from psychophysical experiments. Chemical Senses, 26, 1015-1022, 2001.
Norwich, K.H. and Nevin, R. The information in a welcher Weg experiment. Il Nuovo Cimento, 115 B, N.10, 1137 - 1147, 2000.
Norwich, K.H. and Wong, W. (1997). Unification of psychophysical phenomena: The complete form of Fechner's law. Perception & Psychophysics 59, 929-940.
Norwich, K.H. and Wong, W. (1997). Sensory function in extraterrestrial beings. Annales de la Fondation Louis de Broglie, 22, 161-168.
Wong, W. and Norwich, K.H. (1997). Simulation of human sensory performance. BioSystems 43, 189-197.
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