Asked by Nicole Schultz on May 09, 2024
Verified
A research participant listens to a 1,000 hertz tone. The frequency of the tone is slowly increased, and the participant is instructed to acknowledge when she hears a change in the tone of the pitch. At 1,050 hertz, the participant notes that the pitch of the tone is not the same as it was before. In this case, what does the change of 50 hertz represent?
A) the absolute threshold
B) the difference threshold
C) a hypothetical change in the physical sensation
D) discrimination learning in classical conditioning
Hertz
The unit of frequency in the International System of Units (SI), equal to one cycle per second.
Absolute Threshold
The smallest quantity of a stimulus that an individual can detect.
Difference Threshold
The minimal change in a stimulus that can just barely be detected by an organism.
- Explain the concepts of absolute threshold, difference threshold, and their importance in sensory perception.
Verified Answer
CG
Carlos GutierrezMay 11, 2024
Final Answer :
B
Explanation :
The change of 50 hertz represents the difference threshold, which is the smallest difference in stimuli that can be detected by an individual. In this case, the participant was able to detect a difference of 50 hertz in the frequency of the tone, indicating that this is the minimum threshold for detecting a change in pitch.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the concepts of absolute threshold, difference threshold, and their importance in sensory perception.