Stimulus Duration
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Adaptation: receptor process by which the response to a CONSTANT stimulus DECLINES over time |
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is observable in the receptor potential, therefore it is a fundamental component of transduction
- very few receptors exhibit no change in receptor potential in response to a constant stimulus (A)
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one example would be the otoliths, which detect changes in head position with respect to gravity
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- if the change in receptor potential occurs SLOWLY, the response is called TONIC (B)
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the olfactory system exhibits tonic adaptation
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- if it occurs RAPIDLY, it is called PHASIC (C)
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the auditory system exhibits phasic adaptation
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- different from the concept of selective attention, which is a CNS process