Stimulus

Definition

A stimulus is any change in the environment that can make an organism or a part of the body react. In the context of the nervous system, it's what prompts nerve cells to transmit signals to the brain or spinal cord.

Related terms

Sensory Receptor: A specialized neuron that detects specific types of stimuli, such as light, sound, or temperature, and converts them into electrical signals.

Reflex: An involuntary and nearly instantaneous movement in response to a stimulus without conscious thought.

Action Potential: A rapid rise and fall in electrical membrane potential along a nerve fiber, resulting from stimulation by a stimulus and leading to transmission of nerve impulses