Sensory responses follow a logarithmic scale
Extensive psychophysical and behavioral research demonstrates that subjective sensory responses scale logarithmically with physical stimulus intensity, in accordance with the Weber-Fechner law.
The vast majority of retrieved studies—spanning human sensory perception, animal cognition, and computational modeling—support the validity of the Weber-Fechner law and logarithmic sensory scaling. While some developmental studies (e.g., paper 11) question whether young children naturally use a logarithmic scale or if it is an artifact, the overwhelming weight of evidence from psychophysics strongly supports the claim.
HARRY T. LAWLESS. LOGARITHMIC TRANSFORMATION OF MAGNITUDE ESTIMATION DATA AND COMPARISONS OF SCALING METHODS. 1989. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-459x.1989.tb00459.x
Data transformations confirm that magnitude estimation data adheres well to logarithmic scaling.
Fernando J. Ballesteros, B. Luque, Herminia Filgaira. Questioning weber-fechner law in young children's numerical estimation strategies. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-024-00318-0
Young children's innate numerical estimation strategies may follow a linear mapping rather than a logarithmic one, questioning the universal application of the Weber-Fechner law.
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Maximilian E. Kirschhock, A. Nieder. Numerical Representation for Action in Crows Obeys the Weber-Fechner Law. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976231201624
Crows exhibit a logarithmically compressed number line, supporting the Weber-Fechner law in numerical representation.
Jun Gao, Jie Xu, Xuan Guo, Yizhi Deng, Jinxiang Feng. Local image descriptor developed from Fechner’s law. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JEI.32.1.013037
Human perception of visual stimulus characteristics follows a nonlinear-logarithmic relation as stated in Fechner's law.
Siying Li, Dongdong Du, Shaoming Cheng, Zhenbo Wei. Evaluating the Intensity of Bitter–Astringent Interactive Perception in Green Tea Based on the Weber–Fechner Law. 2025. https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13040137
Interactive perceived intensity in green tea can be effectively quantified and fitted to a logarithmic curve based on the Weber-Fechner law.
B. N. Kausik. Accelerating Machine Learning via the Weber-Fechner Law. 2022. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2204.11834
Machine learning architectures incorporating the logarithmic Weber-Fechner law demonstrate rapid learning of human concepts.
Peng Wu, Juncai Zhu, Qingzhi He, Zhizhong Wang, Li Shi. Visual numerical cognition in pigeons: conformity to the Weber–Fechner law. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-025-01957-y
Pigeons exhibit a logarithmic mental number line consistent with the Weber-Fechner law.
Marcela Gonzalez-Rubio, P. Iturralde, G. Torres-Oviedo. Weber’s Law in walking: sensory scaling is observed in multi-sensory, dynamic tasks. 2025. https://doi.org/10.64898/2025.12.01.691589
Sensitivity to speed differences during walking scales according to Weber's law.
O. Kosheleva, V. Kreinovich, Ahnaf Farhan. Fuzzy Ideas Explain Fechner Law and Help Detect Relation Between Objects in Video. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1109/SACI60582.2024.10619746
Fuzzy mathematical modeling supports logarithmic re-scaling, explaining Fechner's law in perception.
Zile Zhang, Zaiqing Chen. Binocular disparity's logarithmic impact on gloss perception sensitivity. 2025. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3069844
Gloss perception sensitivity decreases logarithmically, showing adherence to the Weber-Fechner law.
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