transduction

Transduction in the nervous system is the process by which sensory receptors convert stimulus energy into electrical responses, known as receptor potentials. These potentials are a type of local potential that, if strong enough, can generate a nerve impulse.1

Sensory receptors are specialized cells that respond to specific stimuli, such as light, touch, taste, or sound. When a stimulus acts on a receptor, its energy is transformed into an electrical signal. For example, photoreceptors in the eye convert light energy into electrical signals. Similarly, mechanoreceptors in the skin respond to touch or pressure by opening ion channels, leading to an electrical change in the cell.2134

These electrical signals are then transmitted along sensory neurons to the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS processes this information, allowing us to perceive our environment and react accordingly. This entire process, from stimulus detection to signal transmission, is fundamental to how we experience the world.542