What is meant by the term absolute threshold?

The term "absolute threshold" refers specifically to the smallest amount of sensation required for an individual to detect a stimulus. This concept is rooted in sensory psychology, where researchers study how we perceive various stimuli, whether they be visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, or gustatory. The absolute threshold represents the point at which a stimulus is strong enough for a person to notice it 50% of the time.

For example, if we consider hearing, the absolute threshold would be the faintest sound that an average person can hear. This measurement is crucial for understanding the limits of human perception and the sensitivity of our sensory systems.

Understanding absolute thresholds helps in distinguishing between levels of sensory input and contributes to fields like audiology and vision science, where determining the capacity to perceive stimuli is essential.