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Every second of every day, our sensory systems perform an amazing feat: They convert one form of energy into another. Vision processes light energy. Hearing processes sound waves. All our senses
receive sensory stimulation, often using specialized receptor cells.
transform that stimulation into neural impulses.
deliver the neural information to our brain.
transduction conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies, such as sights, sounds, and smells, into neural impulses our brain can interpret.
The process of converting one form of energy into another that our brain can use is called transduction. Later in this chapter, we’ll focus on individual sensory systems. How do we see? Hear? Feel pain? Taste? Smell? Keep our balance? In each case, one of our sensory systems receives, transforms, and delivers the information to our brain.
Let’s explore some strengths and weaknesses in our ability to detect and interpret stimuli in the vast sea of energy around us.
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