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If a sense organ is continuously stimulated, the sense organ will decrease responding through the process of:

a. Adaptation
b. Transduction
c. Sensitization
d. Amplification

1 Answer

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Final answer:

When a sense organ is continuously stimulated, it decreases its response through the process of adaptation, which is the reduction in sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time. This happens despite the ongoing sensory input, as the nervous system adapts to focus on stimuli that change or are novel.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a sense organ is continuously stimulated, the sense organ will decrease responding through the process of adaptation. Sensory adaptation occurs when a sensory receptor is exposed to a constant stimulus over an extended period, leading to a reduction in sensitivity to that stimulus. Despite the continuous presence of the stimulus, the sensory signals being sent to the central nervous system diminish and can lead to the perception of the stimulus fading away. This phenomenon helps prevent the nervous system from being overloaded by stimuli that do not require constant attention.

Sensory transduction refers to the conversion of a stimulus from the environment into an electrical or chemical signal by sensory receptors. This process allows the nervous system to perceive changes in our environment. Transduction would not be the correct answer in this case, as it describes the initial step of sensory processing, not the subsequent decrease in response.

It's important to note that the process of sensory adaptation demonstrates that sensation and perception are closely related, but distinct, processes. We might still physically sense something, but we no longer perceive it due to adaptation.

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