What is a receptive field in the sensory nervous system?

A receptive field is a specific region in the sensory periphery where stimuli can influence the electrical activity of sensory cells, such as neurons. This concept is fundamental to sensory neurobiology, as it identifies the precise location where a stimulus must be presented to elicit a response from a sensory cell.1

Receptive fields are found throughout the body, including the skin, muscles, joints, internal organs, and the eyes. They are organized hierarchically; as information travels from peripheral receptors to the thalamus and the primary sensory cortex, the stimulus requirements for activating a neuron become increasingly complex.1

The field is generally divided into two areas:
* Classical receptive field: The region where stimuli directly evoke changes in a neuron's action potentials. This often includes inhibitory subregions that contribute to centre-surround antagonism.1
* Nonclassical receptive field: Surrounding regions that cannot evoke responses on their own but can modulate or influence the responses driven by the central portion of the field.1

Ultimately, a receptive field is defined by the synaptic inputs a neuron receives from its collective receptors.1