Mia is taking a hearing test. The technician instructs her to tell him when she hears a sound. The test moves from louder to softer sounds, until Mia can hear a sound of a certain volume only half the time it is given. The technician is determining Mia's ________ auditory stimuli. a. difference threshold for b. absolute threshold for c. transduction of d. sensory adaptation to

In order to choose the correct term, let's understand the meaning of each option: a. Difference threshold: The minimum difference in intensity between two stimuli that a person can detect 50% of the time. b. Absolute threshold: The lowest level of stimulus that a person can detect 50% of the time it is presented. c. Transduction: The conversion of one form of energy (such as sound) into another form (like neural signals) so that it can be processed by the sensory system. d. Sensory adaptation: The decrease in sensitivity to a constant level of stimulus over time.

Now that we understand each term's meaning, let's compare them with the information given in the exercise: a. The test moves from louder to softer sounds, but it's not comparing two different stimuli at a time, it's determining the lowest level of stimulus Mia can detect. b. This option seems appropriate because the technician is trying to find the lowest volume that Mia can hear only half the time. This matches the definition of absolute threshold. c. The exercise doesn't mention anything about converting sound into neural signals or other forms of energy, so this option is not relevant to the situation. d. Sensory adaptation is not relevant in this exercise because Mia is not being exposed to a constant level of stimulus over time.

Based on the analysis of each option, the term that fits the description provided in the exercise is "absolute threshold for." Thus, the correct answer is: b. absolute threshold for