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Absolute thresholds and difference thresholds

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What is the essential difference between an "absolute threshold" and a "difference threshold?" Are there any similarities? Explain your answer.

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Solution Summary

The solution explains the concept of an "absolute threshold" as it is understood in psychophysics. Also explains the concept of a "difference threshold." Identifies the similarities and differences between these two concepts.

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Absolute thresholds

An "absolute threshold" is the threshold that sensory stimulation must reach in order for a subject to notice or detect it. There are sounds, for example, that are too quiet for you to hear. The level of volume required before you notice a sound is an absolute threshold. Similarly, until there is a certain amount of an odor-causing chemical in the air around you, you cannot notice the odor; but once the amount reaches the absolute threshold, you notice it.

Difference thresholds

A “difference threshold” or “just noticeable difference” is the amount of change that must be made to a sensation (that you can ...

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