Absolute threshold
Absolute threshold
Absolute threshold (pronounced: /ˈæb.sə.luːt ˈθreʃ.hoʊld/) is a term used in sensory psychology to describe the smallest level of energy required by an external stimulus to be detectable by the human senses. This concept is fundamental to the study of sensory systems and perception.
Etymology
The term 'absolute threshold' is derived from the Latin words 'absolutus', meaning 'free, unrestricted', and 'threshold', which in Old English was 'þrescold', meaning 'the point of entering'.
Definition
The absolute threshold is the minimum intensity of a stimulus that can be detected by a sensory system. This threshold varies among individuals and can be influenced by factors such as age, health, and individual sensory sensitivity.
Related Terms
- Difference threshold: Also known as the just noticeable difference (JND), it is the minimum difference in stimulation that a person can detect 50 percent of the time.
- Signal detection theory: A means to quantify the ability to discern between informative signals in an ambiguous background.
- Weber's law: A principle related to the difference threshold, stating that the change in a stimulus that will be just noticeable is a constant ratio of the original stimulus.
- Psychophysics: The scientific study of the relationship between stimuli (specified in physical terms) and the sensations and perceptions they produce.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Absolute threshold
- Wikipedia's article - Absolute threshold
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski