Difference threshold

Difference threshold

The difference threshold, also known as the just noticeable difference (JND), is the minimum difference in stimulation that a person can detect 50 percent of the time. This concept is part of the psychophysics field, which studies the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they produce.

Definition

The difference threshold is defined as the smallest detectable difference between two stimuli, or the minimum change in a stimulus that can be correctly perceived as different from the reference stimulus. This is not a fixed quantity, but depends on the intensity of the reference stimulus.

Weber's Law

The concept of difference threshold is closely related to Weber's Law, which states that the change in a stimulus that will be just noticeable is a constant ratio of the original stimulus. This means that if the original stimulus is high, the change must be larger for it to be noticeable.

Applications

The difference threshold has applications in many fields, including psychology, marketing, neuroscience, and audiology. For example, in marketing, understanding the difference threshold can help marketers determine the minimum change in a product that will be noticed by consumers.

See also

• Absolute threshold
• Sensory threshold
• Signal detection theory
• Stimulus (psychology)

References

Difference threshold Resources
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