Question

Your roommate can hear a hum from the air conditioner that you are unable to hear. This difference reflects:

a. the operation of difference thresholds.
b. the presense of an equilibrium.
c. the effects of cortical processing.
d. different absolute thresholds.

Answer 1

The difference in the ability to hear the hum from an air conditioner between two people reflects different absolute thresholds, with one person having a lower threshold for the sound frequency emitted by the air conditioner. The correct answer is d. different absolute thresholds.

Step-by-step explanation:

The difference in hearing between you and your roommate, with your roommate being able to hear a hum from the air conditioner while you cannot, reflects different absolute thresholds.

The absolute threshold is the minimum amount of stimulus energy that must be present for the stimulus to be detected 50% of the time. In contrast, a difference threshold or just noticeable difference (jnd) is the minimum difference in stimuli required to detect a difference between them.

This scenario does not pertain to equilibrium, cortical processing, or the operation of difference thresholds but rather the individual sensory sensitivity to specific stimulus intensity.

Each person's hearing sensitivity varies and can be influenced by many factors such as age, exposure to loud noise, and even genetics.

This variability can result in one person being able to hear sounds that are inaudible to another. The phenomenon described in the question is indicative of your roommate having a lower absolute threshold for the sound frequency emitted by the air conditioner than you do.

Answer 2

Different absolute thresholds

Step-by-step explanation:

People have different thresholds where they can detect the smallest stimulus to activate their senses, and in this case the hum of an air conditioner emits sound waves with enough energy such that your roommate can hear it, whereas you cannot.