In the context of sensory processing, what does 'subliminal difference' refer to?

The term 'subliminal difference' refers to changes that are unconsciously perceived. In the context of sensation and perception, subliminal messages or differences are stimuli that exist below an individual’s threshold of conscious awareness. This means that while a person may not be actively aware of these stimuli, they can still influence thoughts, feelings, or behaviors in subtle ways.

When stimuli are processed on a subliminal level, they often evade conscious detection, yet they can still affect perception or reaction indirectly. This concept is important in understanding various psychological phenomena, such as advertising effectiveness or the subconscious influences on decision-making.

The other options, while related to sensory processing, do not encapsulate the idea of 'subliminal difference' as effectively. The lack of awareness of a stimulus is a broader concept; the threshold a person cannot detect relates more to the absolute threshold concept, and the psychological impact of stimuli usually refers to conscious responses rather than those occurring below awareness.