AP Psych Study - sensory thresholds, attention

absolute threshold

minimal amount of stimulation necessary to detect a stimulus at last half the time

just noticeable difference

minimum distance between stimuli necessary to detect them as distinct

Weber’s Law

the difference threshold is proportional to the intensity of the stimulus

selective attention

focusing on one things while ignoring another

cocktail party phenomenon

one can hear one’s name mentioned in another conversation; individuals filter information even when focusing elsewhere

divided attention

attempting to focus on multiple things simultaneously