Jill runs a hot bath. She starts to get into the tub, but the water feels extremely hot. She stands in the hot water for a few minutes, then slowly sits down, easing the rest of her body into the water. After a few minutes, she feels quite comfortable; the water no longer feels too hot to her. This decline in sensitivity to a constant stimulus that Jill has experienced is called:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The decline in sensitivity that Jill experienced is known as sensory adaptation. This phenomenon occurs when the body adapts to a constant or unchanging stimulus and the sensory receptors become less responsive. A hot bath is a good example of sensory adaptation because the body initially registers the heat as overwhelming, but as time passes, the hot water becomes more tolerable as the body adapts to the sensation.

Jill Runs a Hot Bath