Sensory threshold is a theoretical concept used in psychophysics

Psychophysics

Psychophysics quantitatively investigates the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they effect. Psychophysics has been described as "the scientific study of the relation between stimulus and sensation" or, more completely, as "the analysis of perceptual...

. A stimulus

Stimulus (physiology)

In physiology, a stimulus is a detectable change in the internal or external environment. The ability of an organism or organ to respond to external stimuli is called sensitivity....

 that is less intense than the sensory threshold will not elicit any sensation. Methods have been developed to measure thresholds in any of the senses.

Several different sensory thresholds have been defined;

• Absolute threshold
  Absolute threshold
  In neuroscience and psychophysics, an absolute threshold is the smallest detectable level of a stimulus. However, at this low level, subjects will sometimes detect the stimulus and at other times not. Therefore, an alternative definition of absolute threshold is the lowest intensity at which a...
  
  : the lowest level at which a stimulus can be detected.
• Recognition threshold: the level at which a stimulus can not only be detected but also recognised.
• Differential threshold
  Just noticeable difference
  In psychophysics, a just noticeable difference, customarily abbreviated with lowercase letters as jnd, is the smallest detectable difference between a starting and secondary level of a particular sensory stimulus...
  
  : the level at which an increase in a detected stimulus can be perceived.
• Terminal threshold: the level beyond which a stimulus is no longer detected.

Aviation use. When related to motion in any of the possible six degrees of freedom (6-DoF), the fact that sensory
thresholds exist is why it is essential that aircraft have blind-flying instruments. Sustained flight in cloud is not possible by `seat-of-the-pants' cues alone since errors build up due to aircraft movements below the pilot's sensory threshold,
ultimately leading to loss of control.

• In flight simulators with motion platforms, the motion sensory thresholds are utilised in the technique known as `acceleration-onset cueing'. This is where a motion platform, having made the initial acceleration that is sensed by the simulator crew, the platform is re-set to approximately its neutral position by being moved at a rate below the sensory threshold and is then ready to respond to the next acceleration demanded by the simulator computer.

See also

• Detection theory
  Detection theory
  Detection theory, or signal detection theory, is a means to quantify the ability to discern between information-bearing energy patterns and random energy patterns that distract from the information Detection theory, or signal detection theory, is a means to quantify the ability to discern between...
  
  
• Odor detection threshold
  Odor detection threshold
  The odor detection threshold is the lowest concentration of a certain odor compound that is perceivable by the human sense of smell. The thresholds of a chemical compound is determined in part by its shape, polarity, partial charges and molecular mass...
  
  
• Perception
  Perception
  Perception is the process of attaining awareness or understanding of the environment by organizing and interpreting sensory information. All perception involves signals in the nervous system, which in turn result from physical stimulation of the sense organs...
  
  
• Sensory analysis
  Sensory analysis
  Sensory analysis is a scientific discipline that applies principles of experimental design and statistical analysis to the use of human senses for the purposes of evaluating consumer products. The discipline requires panels of human assessors, on whom the products are tested, and recording the...