Stimulus — Science definition
Defined in 2 courses:
- A change the body can detect — heat, pressure, light, a chemical — which exists in the world whether or not an organism has a receptor for it. (Life Science & Scientific Inquiry)
- A change that pushes a condition away from its set point and triggers a response. (Life Science: Biology)
Where it is taught
- The Nervous System, Senses & Responses — Coordination, Defense & Reproduction, Life Science & Scientific Inquiry, Grade 7
- Homeostasis & Feedback — Body Systems, Signals & Homeostasis, Life Science: Biology, Grade 10
In use
A stimulus is any change the body can detect — heat, pressure, light, a chemical, a sound.
The Nervous System, Senses & Responses
A stimulus knocks a condition away from its set point — its target value.
Homeostasis & Feedback
Questions using stimulus
Problem 1
Which is a stimulus in a light-response model?
- A change in light
- The whole graph caption
- A claim of intelligence
- The mean alone
Answer and explanation
A change in light
The light change is the input that relevant receptors can detect.