It’s a term that is often used in neuroscience and experimental research.
The smallest level that a participant is able to hear is the absolute threshold.
It is defined as the lowest stimulus level that an organism can detect at least half the time.
Elizabeth Knox / Getty Images
These limits can vary depending on factors such as motivation, expectation, and attention.
In other words, there is no single absolute threshold for any sensory experience.
It may vary from person to person and from one situation to the next.
For example, imagine that you are a participant in a psychology experiment.
for determine the absolute threshold, you would go through a number of trials.
During each trial, you would signal when you are first able to detect the presence of light.
For example, one study found that certain personality traits can influence how we detect scents.
Even the time of day that data is collected can have an influence on the absolute threshold.
Environmental factors such as pressure and humidity can also influence how well participants are able to detect smells.
Absolute thresholds aren’t constant; they areprone to changeas we grow older.
When we are younger, we can detect things at lower levels.
As we age, however, we begin to need increased stimulation to detect those same sensory events.
Absolute Threshold vs.
The absolute threshold should not be confused with the difference threshold.
The difference threshold is the minimum difference between two stimuli that is detectable.
The difference threshold is also known as thejust noticeable difference.
If the intensity of the original stimulus is considerable, you are less likely to notice small changes.
American Psychological Association.Absolute threshold.
APA Dictionary of Psychology.
2016;11(3):e0150783.
