In the study of sensation and perception, sensory processes play a critical role in how we interpret the world around us. Each sense contributes uniquely to our experience. For instance, light waves are processed by the visual system to create images, and sound waves are processed by the auditory system to create what we hear. A key concept in sensory processes is the idea of thresholds, which determine how much stimulus is necessary for a sensation to be detected. Which of the following terms refers specifically to the minimum intensity of a stimulus that can be detected?