A reduction in sensitivity in the presence of a constant stimulus is (a) transduction, (b) sensory coding, (c) line labeling, (d) adaptation.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the key concept in the question: reduction in sensitivity in the presence of a constant stimulus.
2. Review the definitions of each option: (a) transduction, (b) sensory coding, (c) line labeling, (d) adaptation.
3. Understand that transduction refers to the conversion of a stimulus into a neural signal.
4. Recognize that sensory coding involves the way sensory information is represented in the nervous system.
5. Recall that adaptation is the process by which sensory receptors become less sensitive to constant stimuli over time.

Key Concepts

Adaptation

Adaptation refers to the process by which sensory receptors become less sensitive to constant stimuli over time. This phenomenon allows organisms to focus on changes in their environment rather than being overwhelmed by unchanging stimuli. For example, when you enter a room with a strong odor, you may initially notice it, but after a while, you become less aware of it as your sensory receptors adapt.

Transduction

Transduction is the process by which sensory stimuli are converted into electrical signals that can be interpreted by the nervous system. This process is essential for all sensory modalities, as it allows the brain to understand and respond to various forms of stimuli, such as light, sound, and touch. For instance, in vision, light is transduced by photoreceptors in the retina into neural signals.

Sensory Coding

Sensory coding is the way in which sensory information is represented in the nervous system. It involves the transformation of physical stimuli into a format that the brain can interpret, often through patterns of neural firing. Different sensory modalities have distinct coding strategies, such as frequency coding in hearing or spatial coding in vision, which help the brain process and understand complex sensory information.