sensory stimuli
What senses detect
Sensory stimuli are things that activate the senses—light, sound, touch, taste, smell.
The term appears in scientific and clinical contexts: The infant responded to sensory stimuli within normal ranges.
A stimulus is any input the nervous system can detect; stimuli is the plural.
Sensory stimuli can be controlled in experiments or overwhelming in daily life.
- sensory overloadExcessive simultaneous stimulation
- astringencyDrying, puckering quality
- lightVisible electromagnetic radiation
- bright lightsIntense urban illumination
- aromaPleasant distinctive smell
color · texture · sound · bitterness · brightness · umami · contrast · flavor · taste buds · pitch · saltiness · frequency · pain threshold · synesthesia · vibration · perception · fragrance · smoothness
sensory stimulithoughts
Mental reflections
memories · mental imagery · imagination · introspection · cognitive processes
sensory stimulisensory deprivation
Blocking all external stimuli
sensory isolation · numbness · anesthesia · stillness · emptiness