Final answer:
The 'receptive field' is the specific area within which a sensory neuron can detect stimuli, and it plays a crucial role in the sensory system for signaling and processing information in the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to the area within which a single sensory neuron can detect a stimulus is known as the receptive field. Each sensory receptor, associated with a sensory neuron, is responsive to stimuli within a specific region in space. This concept is vital for understanding how sensory signals are translated to electrical signals in the nervous system.
The receptive field is essentially a 'map' of input in the sensory space (like the skin surface or the retina) to a particular neuron. For instance, the somatosensory cortex maintains the sensory topography by mapping locations of the somatosensory receptors in the body onto the cortex, often depicted by a sensory homunculus. This mapping helps the brain to estimate the position and distance of the stimuli based on the information from the receptor cells responding within their respective receptive fields.