What is the term for the minimum amount of difference that can be detected between two stimuli?

The term for the minimum amount of difference that can be detected between two stimuli is known as the difference threshold. This concept refers to the smallest change in a stimulus that a person can detect half of the time, often described in terms of just-noticeable difference (JND). Essentially, it is the threshold at which a person is able to perceive that a difference exists between two stimuli, such as variations in light, sound, or taste.

Understanding the difference threshold is crucial in fields such as sensory psychology, where researchers study how we perceive changes in our environment. This threshold is a key element in the understanding of sensory adaptation and perception, explaining how our senses adapt and respond to constant stimuli over time.

The other terms relate to different concepts in sensory processing. The absolute threshold refers to the minimum stimulus intensity that can be detected, while the just-noticeable difference is a concept that can be synonymous with the difference threshold in certain contexts. Signal detection threshold involves factors like perception and response bias, which pertain more to decision-making rather than just the perception of difference.