Final answer:
Sensory neurons respond to stimuli with graded potentials, which vary in size based on the intensity of the stimulus and can trigger an action potential if the threshold is reached.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sensory neurons respond to an appropriate stimulus with a change in membrane potential that is graded with the stimulus intensity. Sensory neurons exhibit a graded response to stimuli, with the change in membrane potential corresponding to the intensity of the stimulus. Sensory neurons have specialized structures capable of sensing environmental changes. When a sensory stimulus is applied, it generates what is known as a graded potential. These graded potentials can be either depolarizations or hyperpolarizations and their magnitude is dependent on the strength of the stimulus.
For instance, a mild temperature change will elicit a small graded potential, while a more pronounced temperature change will produce a larger potential. If these changes in membrane potential add up or summate to reach a certain threshold, they can trigger an action potential. In specialized sensory receptor cells, like taste cells or photoreceptors, the graded potentials are known as receptor potentials.