Sensory biology

Sensory biology studies how organisms detect environmental signals and process them into information that guides perception and behavior.

Sensory transduction: The conversion of a physical or chemical stimulus into a cellular signal. It is the first step by which environmental energy becomes biological information.
Photoreception: The detection of light by specialized cells or molecules. It shows how sensory systems detect electromagnetic energy.
Echolocation: The use of reflected sound to detect objects and orient in space. Bats and toothed whales use hearing as an active way to map surroundings.
Sensation: The registration of stimuli by sensory systems, before or apart from their interpretation. It names the detection stage that sensory biology investigates alongside later processing.
Sensory bias: A preference or response to a signal that exists independently of the signal’s current function. Pre-existing sensory preferences can shape the evolution of communication and courtship.
Sensory receptor: A cell or protein that detects a particular stimulus and initiates a response. Different receptor types detect the distinct signals organisms can sense.
Mechanoreception: The detection of mechanical forces such as pressure, vibration, or stretch. It underlies senses that register touch, sound, balance, and body position.
Electroreception: The detection of electric fields produced by other organisms or the environment. Some aquatic animals use electrical signals to locate prey and navigate.
Signal detection theory: A framework for analyzing decisions under uncertainty when signals must be distinguished from noise. It explains how sensory sensitivity and decision criteria affect detection.
Sensory drive: Evolutionary change in signals and preferences shaped by environmental conditions on perception. It links habitat, sensory systems, and the evolution of animal signals.

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