Final answer:
An example of an environmental stimulus that could trigger eating is the sight of a plate of food. This stimulus can induce salivation and hunger due to the body's natural response to food-related cues, influenced by both physiological needs and learned associations through conditioning.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of an environmental stimulus that could trigger eating is the sight of a plate of food.
Environmental stimuli play a key role in regulating our eating behaviors. The sight, smell, and taste of food are common triggers that can induce salivation and the sensation of hunger. Salivation can be an automatic response, not just to the actual presence of food but also to visual cues or even the thought of food. For instance, the sight of a steaming hot pizza on a commercial could make a person hungry, even if they were not feeling hungry before. This phenomenon is partially explained by classical conditioning, known as the Pavlovian response, where a neutral stimulus, after being repeatedly associated with one that prompts a natural response, eventually triggers that response on its own.
Moreover, our motivation and physiological needs, such as low blood sugar or an empty stomach, prompt the brain to be more receptive to food-related cues, influencing our perception and behaviors towards eating. The brain integrates various signals from the digestive system and the environment, ultimately prompting us to seek food. When we see a plate of delicious food, our body may prepare for ingestion by starting the salivation process, thus demonstrating how responsive our bodies are to environmental cues regarding hunger and eating.