Stimulus Role
Contents
Definition
Human Definition: Something with a physical presence that is presented to a subject to evoke an overt or covert behavioral Response.
Ontological 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 and AL
Synonyms
Parent Entity
BFO: role
Example
In an auditory oddball paradigm, the role of the stimulus is usually filled by the auditory tone or cluster of tones that are presented to the subject.
Logical Restrictions
An experimental Condition requires something that plays the role of a stimulus.
Comments
A stimulus can be categorized by its Stimulus Modality, Stimulus Type, and Stimulus Role.
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
We define a stimulus as a role so that ontologies of tones, lights, pictures, and other "things" 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 and AL
Curation Status
pending final vetting
