psychophysics

American  

[sahy-koh-fiz-iks] / ˌsaɪ koʊˈfɪz ɪks /

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.

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psychophysics British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• psychophysic adjective
• psychophysical adjective
• psychophysically adverb
• psychophysicist noun

Etymology

Origin of psychophysics

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 • Apr. 24, 2024

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

From The New Yorker • Nov. 19, 2018

From my student research into motor psychophysics, I knew that this random, uncoordinated motion could be easily ignored; to the players, it’s white noise.

From Slate • Feb. 17, 2015

But there is also a scientific discipline, psychophysics, dedicated to investigating our sensual interactions with materials.

From The Guardian • May 24, 2013

Modern psychophysics has pointed to a large group of false perceptions due to illusions of pressure, stabs, or other contact with the skin.

From Criminal Psychology; a manual for judges, practitioners, and students by Gross, Hans Gustav Adolf