noitasnesdeviecrepfoedutingaM* ** *The Weber-Fechner law is a formula that expresses how a physical quantity (stimulus) is perceived as a sensation by humans.In this formula, R represents the physical quantity while E represents the magnitude of the corresponding human sensation. C is a constant; log denotes the logarithmic function. Simply put, this formula states that as the physical quantity increases, the human sensation will gradually become more insensitive to the increase (in other words, the exact opposite of an exponential increase).One famous example of this law involves a familiar phenomenon of our perception of weight. Although we’re extremely sensitive to the difference To be honest, I’m not a true science and math lover. My favorite subjects are Japanese and music. To me, science and math are just like acquaintances but not friends. Although I went on to attend the engineering faculty at my university, I was vaguely aware that I was not going to be ahead of my fellow students in pure engineering fields. Eventually, I found myself drifting into the academic field of cognitive science. This is a field that attempts to elucidate the mechanisms of human perception and cognition. It’s somewhere between the sciences and the humanities. Then I encountered Weber-Fechner’s law, which links the world of physics with the world of the mind.The Weber-Fechner lawThe Weber-Fechner law is a fundamental law of psychophysics pertaining to sensation. This law was conceived by the German physiologist and anatomist Ernst Heinrich Weber, who discovered the relationship between physical quantity and the volume of the per-ceived sensation through experiments and formulated by Gustav Theodor Fechner, a student who later came to be known as the father of psychophysics. The law was named after these two people.* *I introduced the Weber-Fechner law, which connects the world of physics to the world of the mind. It’s a rather simplified law and not as precise compared to the laws we usually see in science and math textbooks. But I think it has a mysterious charm everyone can relate to. The next time you see an apple, try quantifying your feelings.Quantifying Our MindsPhysical quantity (stimulus)Yosuke KikuchiSound & Vibration Sensor R&D Group, R&D Department, R&D Center. Joined Rion in 2015. After working in the Medical Testing Devices Development Section and other sections, he has primarily focused on developing sound and vibration transducers for medical testing devices. His hobbies include watching Blu-ray recordings of live performances of the band PornoGraffitti.EPILOGUE SCIENCE, SCIENCE ! Column by Rion’s Staff on Their Obsession with ScienceThe keyword is quantification. For some reason, we humans have the desire to convert things around us into numbers. Consider apples: When we have apples, we count how many we have, measure their weights and sizes, and even try to measure their sugar content and firmness. We want to show everything in numbers. In the world of physics, apples are converted into various numerical quantities. In contrast, how do we perceive apples in our world of the mind? We may perceive that there are many; that they feel solid and heavy; or that they taste slightly sweet. But it’s hard to quantify such sensations. This law just breezed past such difficulties and provided a solution.Article by Yosuke KikuchiRion is supported by many science-loving and math-loving staff members. In this series, our science-minded staff members write about their enthusiasm for their respective fields of interest. Part 8 concerns the Weber-Fechner Law.between 10 g and 20 g, we really can’t feel the difference between 1,000 g and 1,010 g. To have the same perception for difference in weight, we would have to compare something weighing 1,000 g and 2,000 g. This law expresses the sensations we experience in our daily lives using a simple mathematical formula.I chose to introduce this law here because this formula takes me back to my university days. This was one of the very few formulas that appeared in my master’s thesis. The theme I studied in college was how people perceive the duration of silent intervals. Compiling the results of my research, I couldn’t find any significant trends in time duration on a linear axis. But when I switched to a logarithmic plot, a clear trend emerged in front of my eyes. Does it mean that humans are perceiving time logarithmically? When I looked into it, I immediately came across the Weber-Fechner law. In excitement I said to myself “This is it!” Thanks to this law, I was able to complete my master’s thesis.Another thing I really want to introduce here may be more important. I feel the real appeal of this law is that it’s so surprisingly simple you can’t help but wonder on the second thought, “Is this really true?” For example, returning to the example of the sensation of weight above, can we say we actually perceive the difference between 10 g and 20 g and 1,000 g and 2,000 g as the same difference? Our actual perception may be somewhat different, if we’re to be precise. But this law takes the bold approach, ignoring such trivial points, and proclaims itself, declaring “This is the law!” There is also the convincing power of a universal law that most people think, “Maybe it’s true.” This boldness and simplicity are its greatest appeal. I think this law expresses a truth (in psychology) about human beings that can’t be reached just by pursuing research in science and mathematics.The rate of increase in the perceived sensation becomes smaller under the constant rate of increase in stimulation.20No. 008The Weber-Fechner LawE = C log RBecause We’re Science and Math Lovers
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