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An attempt for the application of the basic Law of Psychophysics (Fechner-Stevens law) in the domain of visceral stimuli in humans

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Abstract

The validity of the basic Law of Psychophysics proposed originally by Fechner and revised by Stevens had been tested in the domain of visceral perception. The experiments were carried out on six adult colonostomy patients. The distension of the sigmoid colon (the ϕ-value of the Fechner–Stevens equation) had been undertaken by the aid of a rubber balloon inserted into the intestinal stoma orifice and controlled by a computerized pneumatic system. The tracking of sensations of “gut-feelings” by the subjects (the ψ-value of the Fechner–Stevens equation) had been made possible by applying the subjects’ manipulation of a sliding potentiometer of a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS-device). The results seem to prove the extension of the validity of the Fechner–Stevens power equation to the field of visceral perception.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Group of Psychophysiology of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Department of Comparative Physiology of the Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, H-1088, Múzeum krt. 4/a, Hungary

    G. Ádám, J. Fent & M. Kajtár

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  1. G. Ádám
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  2. J. Fent
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  3. M. Kajtár
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Dedicated to Professor János Salánki for his 70th birthday.

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Ádám, G., Fent, J. & Kajtár, M. An attempt for the application of the basic Law of Psychophysics (Fechner-Stevens law) in the domain of visceral stimuli in humans. BIOLOGIA FUTURA 50, 19–25 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03543027

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03543027

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