In physiology, a stimulus (plural stimuli) is a detectable change in the internal or external environment. When a stimulus is applied to a sensory receptor, it elicits or influences a reflex via stimulus transduction. A stimulus is often the first component of a homeostatic control system. When a sensory nerve and a motor nerve communicate with each other, it is called a nerve stimulus.

Any of your five senses will accommodate to a particular stimulus. The stimulus–response model describes how statistical units such as receptor cells response to their effective stimulus.

See also

• Stimulation

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