Ace the AP Psychology Test 2025 – Unlock Your Mind’s Potential!

Question: 1 / 530

What does sensory adaptation refer to?

The changing shape of the lens in the eye

Diminished sensitivity due to constant stimulation

Sensory adaptation refers to the process by which our sensitivity to a constant stimulus diminishes over time. This phenomenon occurs when sensory receptors become less responsive to an unchanging stimulus, leading to a decrease in the perceived intensity of that stimulus. For example, when you first enter a room with a strong odor, the scent may be overwhelming; however, after a while, you may hardly notice it. This adjustment allows us to focus on changes in our environment rather than constant, unvarying stimuli, which is crucial for survival.

The other options provided do not encapsulate the concept of sensory adaptation: one talks about the physical changes in the eye, another addresses the perception of differences between stimuli, and the last one describes the transformation of stimuli into neural signals. None of these processes relate to the diminished sensitivity driven by prolonged exposure to the same stimulus.

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The principle of stimuli difference perception

Transformation of stimulus energies into neural impulses

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