What do sense organs differ in regarding stimulus detection?

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Prepare for the MCAT Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

The correct answer focuses on sensitivity, which refers to the ability of sense organs to detect and respond to different types and levels of stimuli. Each sense organ has a specific threshold for detection; some can pick up very faint stimuli, while others may require a stronger stimulus to elicit a response. For example, the human eye is highly sensitive to light, enabling it to detect low levels of brightness, whereas the skin has different sensitivity levels based on the type of touch, pressure, or pain.

Sensitivity also encompasses the range of stimuli that a particular sense organ can detect. This variation explains why humans can perceive a wide array of sounds, colors, and sensations, depending on the specific adaptations of each sense organ. Understanding sensitivity helps clarify how different organs interact with the environment and process sensory information, making it a crucial concept in the study of sensory systems.