TY - JOUR
T1 - Physics of psychophysics
T2 - Stevens and Weber-Fechner laws are transfer functions of excitable media
AU - Copelli, Mauro
AU - Roque, Antônio C.
AU - Oliveira, Rodrigo F.
AU - Kinouchi, Osame
PY - 2002/6/26
Y1 - 2002/6/26
N2 - Sensory arrays made of coupled excitable elements can improve both their input sensitivity and dynamic range due to collective nonlinear wave properties. This mechanism is studied in a neural network of electrically coupled (e.g., via gap junctions) elements subject to a Poisson signal process. The network response interpolates between a Weber-Fechner logarithmic law, and a Stevens power law depending on the relative refractory period of the cell. Therefore, these nonlinear transformations of the input level could be performed in the sensory periphery simply due to a basic property: the transfer function of excitable media.
AB - Sensory arrays made of coupled excitable elements can improve both their input sensitivity and dynamic range due to collective nonlinear wave properties. This mechanism is studied in a neural network of electrically coupled (e.g., via gap junctions) elements subject to a Poisson signal process. The network response interpolates between a Weber-Fechner logarithmic law, and a Stevens power law depending on the relative refractory period of the cell. Therefore, these nonlinear transformations of the input level could be performed in the sensory periphery simply due to a basic property: the transfer function of excitable media.
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U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevE.65.060901
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevE.65.060901
M3 - Article
C2 - 12188696
AN - SCOPUS:37649032017
SN - 1063-651X
VL - 65
JO - Physical Review E - Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics
JF - Physical Review E - Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics
IS - 6
ER -