Larger baseline weights require proportionally larger differences to be noticed

Evidence

It can be difficult to generate an intuition for this type of experiment, so rather than considering intensity discrimination of sound for the time being, let’s consider a weightlifting experiment. A weight lifter is given a weight and is asked to determine the next size weight needed to determine that one of the weights is bigger than the other. The weightlifter experiments with numerous weights and determines that he can tell the difference between a 10- and an 11-lb weight. Next, that same weight lifter is given a 50-lb weight and determines the size of the weight that is just noticeably heavier. Again, he experiments and determines that he can tell the difference between a 50- and a 55-lb weight. Finally, he does this at 100 lbs and discovers that he can differentiate between 100 and 110 lbs. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 798

Categorization

• XREF: The weightlifting analogy for the JND connects to Stevens’ and Fechner’s work and to the psychophysics of lifted weights the reader knows from other psychophysics sources.