What do distal stimuli refer to?

Distal stimuli refer to objects and events in the external environment that can be perceived by the senses. They are distinguished from proximal stimuli, which are the physical signals that are received by the sensory receptors. For example, a tree in a park would be a distal stimulus, while the light entering the eye and activating the photoreceptors would be considered a proximal stimulus. Understanding this distinction is crucial in fields such as psychology and sensory perception, as it helps explain how we interpret our surroundings.

In this context, the other options do not accurately describe distal stimuli. Patterns perceived only in dreams (the first option) relate more to cognitive and psychological experiences rather than physical stimuli in the environment. Sounds that are abstract and non-specific (the second option) do not encapsulate the idea of external environmental objects. Lastly, visual stimuli that are fleeting (the fourth option) refer specifically to transient visual input rather than the broader concept of external objects and events that distal stimuli encompass.