Difference threshold
Difference Threshold
The Difference Threshold (pronounced: dif-er-uhns thresh-ohld), also known as the Just Noticeable Difference (JND), is a concept in Psychophysics that refers to the minimum change in a stimulus that can be detected by a perceiver. The term was coined by Gustav Fechner, a German psychologist, in the 19th century.
Etymology
The term "Difference Threshold" is derived from the English words "difference", meaning a point or way in which people or things are dissimilar, and "threshold", which refers to the magnitude or intensity that must be exceeded for a certain reaction, phenomenon, result, or condition to occur or be manifested.
Definition
In the field of Sensory Perception, the Difference Threshold is defined as the smallest detectable difference between two stimuli. This concept is closely related to the Weber-Fechner Law, which states that the change in a stimulus that will be just noticeable is a constant ratio of the original stimulus.
Related Terms
- Absolute Threshold: The smallest intensity of a stimulus that has to be present for the stimulus to be detected.
- Signal Detection Theory: A means to quantify the ability to discern between informative signals in an ambiguous background.
- Sensory Adaptation: The process by which our sensitivity diminishes when an object constantly stimulates our senses.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Difference threshold
- Wikipedia's article - Difference threshold
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