A Simple Power Law Governs Many Sensory Amplifications and Multisensory Enhancements

Scientific Reports
Vincent A Billock, Paul R Havig

Abstract

When one sensory response occurs in the presence of a different sensory stimulation, the sensory response is often amplified. The variety of sensory enhancement data tends to obscure the underlying rules, but it has long been clear that weak signals are usually amplified more than strong ones (the Principle of Inverse Effectiveness). Here we show that for many kinds of sensory amplification, the underlying law is simple and elegant: the amplified response is a power law of the unamplified response, with a compressive exponent that amplifies weak signals more than strong. For both psychophysics and cortical electrophysiology, for both humans and animals, and for both sensory integration and enhancement within a sense, gated power law amplification (amplification of one sense triggered by the presence of a different sensory signal) is often sufficient to explain sensory enhancement.

References

Dec 1, 1986·Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics and Image Science·M Ikeda, Y Nakano
Oct 14, 1998·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·S A HillyardS J Luck
Jul 26, 2003·Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research·Christopher T LovelaceMark T Wallace
Aug 22, 2003·Journal of Neurophysiology·Thomas J PerraultMark T Wallace
Sep 20, 2005·Current Biology : CB·Nicholas P Holmes, Charles Spence
Nov 10, 2005·Journal of the Optical Society of America. A, Optics, Image Science, and Vision·Vincent A Billock, Brian H Tsou
Jan 31, 2006·Journal of Vision·Lindsay T SharpeHerbert Jägle
Jan 17, 2007·Neuron·Peter LakatosCharles E Schroeder
May 2, 2007·Neuroreport·Terrence R Stanford, Barry E Stein
Jun 19, 2007·Brain Research·Helge Gillmeister, Martin Eimer
Jan 9, 2008·Cerebral Cortex·Christoph KayserNikos K Logothetis
Dec 6, 2008·Neuroreport·M Alex Meredith, Brian L Allman
Jun 25, 2009·Experimental Brain Research·Barry E SteinBenjamin A Rowland
Jan 25, 2011·Attention, Perception & Psychophysics·James A Schirillo
Nov 1, 1996·Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience·B E SteinD D Price

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

MATLAB
AES

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Archives italiennes de biologie
J Scherrer, F Lille
The European Journal of Neuroscience
Sophie Molholm, John J Foxe
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved