The nervous system encodes greater stimulus intensity by
A) forming action potentials with higher peaks.
B) forming action potentials that last a longer time.
C) increasing the rate of firing.
D) reducing the number of neurons that are responding.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nervous system encodes greater stimulus intensity by increasing the rate of firing. When a stimulus is stronger, more neurons will fire action potentials and each neuron will fire more frequently, resulting in a higher rate of firing. This increased rate of firing allows the nervous system to distinguish between different levels of stimulus intensity.

The Nervous System Encodes Greater Stimulus Intensity by