absolute threshold

the minimum amount of stimulation required to trigger a reaction or produce a sensation. Absolute threshold is measured across several trials. It is the lowest or weakest level of stimulation (e.g., the slightest, most indistinct sound) that can be detected on 50% of trials. Although the name suggests a fixed level at which stimuli effectively elicit sensations, the absolute threshold fluctuates according to alterations in receptors and environmental conditions. Also called absolute limen (AL); detection threshold; sensation threshold.

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Psychology term of the day

December 26th 2024

morphometrics

n. the theory and technique associated with the physical measurement of living organisms and their component parts. Studies of size, shape, and structure are important not only in biology but also in neuropsychology and medical psychology. For example, researchers interested in morphometrics could study the form and structure of the brain in individuals who have various physical or psychological disorders. By contrast, psychometrics specifically focuses on the measurement of psychological phenomena.