9: sensory thresholds

thresholds

Limits of sensory capacities

thresholds

can be used to determine

the point at which some substances

begin to reduce acceptability.

Among panelists, within panelists, among sensory stimuli

Thresholds may differ in 3 ways:

absolute threshold

○ Detection threshold

○ Lowest stimulus capable of producing a sensation

○ It is usually set as the stimulus magnitude at which the subject can identify a difference.

Recognition threshold

Level of stimulus at which the specific stimulus can be recognized and identified.

Difference threshold

Least amount of change of a given

stimulus necessary to produce a

change in sensation.

JND (Just Noticeable Difference) and JNND (Just Not Noticeable Difference)

interval unit in difference threshold

terminal threshold

Magnitude of a stimulus above

which there is no increase in

perceived intensity of the

appropriate quality of the stimulus.

measurement of thresholds

the most common procedure for studying the psychophysics of taste

Psychophysics

study of the relationship between physical stimuli and a person’s sensory experience