Intensity discrimination measures the smallest detectable change in loudness

Evidence

Due to many of the problems with both rating and matching studies, other investigators have approached the study of the auditory representation of intensity by using discrimination experiments. In these cases, the researchers measure the just noticeable difference (JND) in intensity. Recall that the JND is the smallest difference that is discriminable by the ear, and is also referred to as the difference limen. These experiments fall in a long line of psychoacoustic studies that evaluate the capabilities of the ear. In these experiments, the primary question is, “What is the smallest intensity change that the ear can detect?” These experiments also ask whether the JND is a constant across intensities or whether it varies. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 795

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines the just noticeable difference (JND) and difference limen as central intensity perception measures.