Sensory Thresholds in AP Psychology

Definition

Sensory thresholds refer to the minimum level of stimulation needed for a sensory system to detect a stimulus. It is the point at which a stimulus becomes noticeable or detectable by our senses.

Related terms

Absolute Threshold:

The absolute threshold is the lowest level of stimulation that can be detected by a sensory system, such as the faintest sound you can hear or the dimmest light you can see.

Difference Threshold (Just Noticeable Difference): The difference threshold refers to the smallest amount of change in stimulation needed for an individual to notice a difference between two stimuli. For example, being able to tell if someone added one teaspoon or two teaspoons of sugar in your coffee.

Subliminal Stimuli:

Subliminal stimuli are below our absolute threshold and therefore go unnoticed by our conscious awareness. They may still influence us subtly, but we are not consciously aware of them.