Absolute thresholds

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An absolute threshold (also known variously as the detection threshold, objective threshold, sensation threshold, sensory threshold or absolute sensitivity) is the minimum amount of stimulation required for a person to detect a stimulus fifty percent of the time.

Gustav Fechner did much of the early work determining the absolute thresholds for the sensory modalities. He used three main methods:

• Method of limits
• Method of constant stimuli
• Method of adjustment

See also

• Absolute threshold of hearing
• Just noticeable difference
• Limen
• Signal detection theory
• Psychometric function

Additional material

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