1/f noise in human cognition

Science. 1995 Mar 24;267(5205):1837-9. doi: 10.1126/science.7892611.

Abstract

When a person attempts to produce from memory a given spatial or temporal interval, there is inevitably some error associated with the estimate. The time course of this error was measured in a series of experiments where subjects repeatedly attempted to replicate given target intervals. Sequences of the errors in both spatial and temporal replications were found to fluctuate as 1/f noises. 1/f noise is encountered in a wide variety of physical systems and is theorized to be a characteristic signature of complexity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Fourier Analysis
  • Humans
  • Models, Psychological
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Space Perception / physiology*
  • Time Perception / physiology*