Final answer:
The receptive field is the specific area in which a sensory neuron can detect stimuli. It varies among different senses and is fundamental in the process of converting sensory stimulus to an electrical signal, known as transduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to the area within which a single sensory neuron can detect stimulus is called a receptive field. This concept is vital in understanding how sensory receptors are activated by various stimuli, such as mechanical stimuli, chemicals, or temperature. Each sensory receptor has a specific receptive field where it can respond to stimuli. Receptive fields can vary significantly among different senses, for example, the sense of touch requires stimuli to be in contact with the body, whereas for vision, a stimulus can be perceived from great distances like light from distant stars.
In terms of transduction, sensory receptors are specialized neurons or specialized ends of neurons that convert sensory signal into an electrical signal in the nervous system. This is crucial for converting the physical stimulus into a form that can be processed by the brain, leading to perception.