Final answer:
All sensory receptors share the common feature of transducing specific environmental stimuli into neural signals, a process known as transduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
One feature that all sensory receptors have in common is the ability to transduce a specific stimulus from the environment into a neural signal. This process is called transduction. Sensory receptors can be specialized cells associated with sensory neurons or specialized ends of sensory neurons that detect information about the environment, both internal and external. They are each modified for the type of stimulus they detect, such as light, sound, or pressure, ensuring receptor specificity. The fundamental function of a sensory receptor is the conversion of a sensory signal, whether mechanical, chemical, or thermal, into an electrical signal within the nervous system.
Examples of Sensory Receptors
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- Mechanoreceptors: Detect mechanical stimuli like touch and pressure.
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- Photoreceptors: Detect light stimuli.
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- Chemoreceptors: Detect chemical stimuli in taste and smell.
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- Thermoreceptors: Detect changes in temperature.
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- Nociceptors: Detect pain or harmful stimuli.