A sensory activation occurs when a physical or chemical stimulus is processed into a neural signal (sensory transduction) by a sensory receptor. Humans have special senses: olfaction, gustation, equilibrium, and hearing, plus the general senses of somatosensation

Each sensory receptor is responsive to stimuli within a specific region in space, which is known as that receptor’s receptive field. Perception is an individual interpretation of a sensation and is a brain function.

sensory receptor — specialized neuron or other cells associated with a neuron that is modified to receive specific sensory input. sensory transduction — conversion of a sensory stimulus into electrical energy in the nervous system by a change in the membrane potential. physical or chemical stimulus — processed into a neural signal (sensory transduction) by a sensory receptor. receptive field — region in space in which a stimulus can activate a given sensory receptor.