Stimulus Role
Contents
Definition
The role of a stimulus in a behavioral experiment is attributed to the processual entity or continuant which elicits activity from the subject in the context of the experiment.
Definition Source
JT
Synonyms
Parent Entity
BFO: Realizable_entity
Example
In an auditory oddball paradigm, the role of the stimulus is usually filled by the auditory tone or clusters that are played to the subject.
Relations to other CogPo Terms
An experimental condition requires something that plays the role of a stimulus.
UsageNote
In BrainMap (2009) this is similar to "stimulus type".
Comments
Original suggestions included: "The occurrent or continuant (i.e., the thingie) which elicits activity from the subject in the experiment." Its suggested definition in other fields includes:
- Anything that may have an impact or influence on a system
- (physiology) Something external that elicits or influences a physiological or psychological activity or response.
- (psychology) Anything effectively impinging upon any of the sensory apparatuses of a living organism, including physical phenomena both internal and external to the body.
- Anything that induces a person to take action
However, we define it as a role so that ontologies of tones, lights, pictures, and other "things" etc. can be imported as references to the objects which play the role of stimulus in a given experimental condition.
Created Date
2009/11/12
Curator
JT
Curation Status
pending_final_vetting
URI
Related Concepts
i.e., these are other items which can play the role of a stimulus
