1.4 Definition of Stimulus

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Before we get started, let’s briefly review some terms with which you should already be familiar. The first is stimulus, which can be defined as a physical energy change capable of affecting an organism through one of its sensory receptors or free nerve endings.

TermDefinition
StimulusA physical energy change capable of affecting an organism through one of its receptors: photoreceptors, phonoreceptors, chemoreceptors (gustatory and olfactory), mechanoreceptors (touch), thermoreceptors, and free nerve endings. 
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A stimulus is anything that can cause a response or change in behavior

A stimulus changes and influence behavior.

A stimulus can be internal or external.

A stimulus is what evokes reactions or behaviors in an organism.

Stimuli evoke behaviors and can be internal and external

A stimulus is something that can influence behaviors.

beatrizguess Beatriz Ferreira Guedes Santiago March 16, 2026 at 8:17 pm

stimuli may be part of stimulus class, a group of stimuli that evoke the same response or serve the same function for the learner.

Stimulus can be any change sensory receptors experience

A stimulus is a physical energy change that affects the organisms around it.

I always appreciate a return to foundational concepts, thank you!

A stimuli is anything in the environment that can influence behavior.

Solanch Speranza Baro Solanch Speranza Baro July 6, 2026 at 12:32 pm

Stimulus is any detectable change or event in the internal or external environment that can influence the probability, form, frequency, intensity, or timing of a behaviour.

This definition is a good reminder that a stimulus is basically anything in the environment that our body can detect through the senses.

Antecedent stimuli occur prior to a behavior of interest; discriminative stimuli (SD) signal that reinforcement is available, while non-discriminative stimuli (S-delta) does not signal that reinforcement is available.

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