Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A field in biology refers to the area of space or range over which a biological process, such as sensory perception, occurs. It often involves the spatial extent within which stimuli can be detected by sensory receptors.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
The receptive field of a neuron is the specific region where stimuli will activate it.
Receptive fields can vary in size and sensitivity depending on the type of sensory receptor.
Lateral inhibition sharpens the response of neurons within their receptive fields.
Multiple receptive fields can overlap, allowing for more precise sensory information processing.
Receptive fields are critical for understanding how organisms perceive their environment.