psychophysics

[ sahy-koh-fiz-iks ]

noun

, (used with a singular verb)

1. the branch of psychology that deals with the relationships between physical stimuli and resulting sensations and mental states.

psychophysics

/ ˌsaɪkəʊˈfɪzɪks /

noun

1. functioning as singular the branch of psychology concerned with the relationship between physical stimuli and the effects they produce in the mind

Derived Forms

• ˌpsychoˈphysical, adjective

Other Words From

• psy·cho·phys·i·cal [sahy-koh-, fiz, -i-k, uh, l], psycho·physic adjective
• psycho·physi·cal·ly adverb
• psy·cho·phys·i·cist [sahy-koh-, fiz, -, uh, -sist], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of psychophysics¹

From the German word Psychophysik, dating back to 1875–80. See psycho-, physics

Example Sentences

The researchers used online tools to test and verify these predictions by running psychophysics experiments with human participants.

From Science Daily

The speed-accuracy tradeoff occurs so often in engineering, psychology and biology, you could almost call it a “law of psychophysics.”

From Scientific American

What both fascinated and eluded him, however, was the much more difficult pursuit of “inner psychophysics”—relating the states of the nervous system to the subjective experiences that accompany them.

From Scientific American

He knew from his study of psychophysics that she was working against a fundamental biological obstacle.

From The New Yorker

The founders of psychophysics were the first to treat psychology as an experimental and quantifiable science.

From Scientific American