Question

Which statement best explains why sensors (or senses) are necessary to produce a change in behavior?
A.
Stimuli must be sensed in order to produce a response.
B.
Organisms cannot sense stimuli without a central nervous system.
C.
Stimuli must be responded to in order to be sensed.
D.
Organisms cannot respond to stimuli without a central nervous system.

Answer 1

A.

Sensors (receptors) detect environmental stimuli and transduce them into signals that can trigger a response. Without sensing the stimulus there is no information to produce a change in behavior. (Options B and D are false because sensing and responding can occur without a central nervous system; C reverses cause and effect.)