What term describes the conversion of external energy, such as light or pressure, into an electrical signal (action potential) that the nervous system can interpret?
Answer
Transduction
Transduction is the specific term for the process where external energy from a stimulus is converted into an electrical signal that the nervous system can interpret.
Related Questions
What process describes the decrease in a sensory receptor's responsiveness when exposed to a constant, unchanging stimulus over time?What is the primary biological purpose of sensory adaptation?What term describes the conversion of external energy, such as light or pressure, into an electrical signal (action potential) that the nervous system can interpret?Which receptors are specialized to detect the onset and offset of a stimulus and exhibit a rapid decline in firing rate, making them detectors of movement?Which examples of skin receptors are characterized as tonic receptors, crucial for providing ongoing information about sustained pressure?How is the intensity of a stimulus generally encoded by the afferent neuron?What phenomenon occurs in olfaction where the perceived intensity of a strong scent vanishes after initial exposure?What neural mechanism, involving inhibitory interneurons activated by constant strong input, actively suppresses a primary afferent fiber's signal and contributes to adaptation?What specialized structure in receptors like the Pacinian corpuscle acts as a mechanical filter to ensure they primarily respond to rapid pressure changes?In the context of internal monitoring, what term describes the adjustment of tonic receptor firing rates, such as baroreceptors, over hours or days to maintain physiological stability during chronic conditions?