The principles of physical science can define limits to the stimuli that can influence biological organism and, for a particular organism and sensory structure, can give information about sensitivity and information-carrying capacity. When these ideas are applied to human sensory systems, in particular to hearing and vision, it is found that the major problem is not one of sensitivity but rather that of coping with the immense amount of sensory data provided by the ear or eye.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
ShannonC. E. and WeaverW., The Mathematical Theory of Communication, University of Illinois Press, Urbana (1962).
2.
CherryC, On Human Communication, Technology Press of MIT and Wiley, New York (1957).
3.
MooreB. C. J., Introduction to the Psychology of Hearing, Macmillan, London (1977).
4.
HeldR. and RichardsW., eds., Perception: Mechanisms and Models (Reprints from Scientific American), Freeman, San Francisco (1972).
