Sensory terms

The process of converting one form of energy into another, such as a stimulus into an electrical signal.

An adequate stimulus is defined as:

• Any stimulus that is strong enough to generate a receptor potential

• The type of stimulus to which a sensory receptor is most sensitive

• A stimulus that is above the threshold level but does not cause an action potential

• A stimulus that cannot be detected by a particular receptor

The minimum level of a stimulus required to activate a receptor and generate a response.

The receptive field of a sensory neuron refers to:

• The maximum distance a stimulus can travel in the nervous system

• The number of action potentials a neuron can fire in response to a stimulus

• The specific physical area in which a stimulus leads to activation of that neuron

• The ability of a neuron to adapt to a constant stimulus over time

A graded electrical response generated in a sensory receptor in response to a stimulus.