Which of the following describes proximal stimuli?

Proximal stimuli refer to the patterns of energy that directly affect our senses, and they are the immediate sensory input that our sensory organs respond to. This includes light waves that reach the retina in our eyes or sound waves that travel to our ears. Whereas distal stimuli are the actual objects and events in the environment that produce these effects, proximal stimuli are the representations of those objects as they are perceived by our sensory systems.

Therefore, the description of proximal stimuli as patterns that reach our senses from the environment accurately encapsulates this concept. It emphasizes the direct connection between the external stimuli and our sensory receptors, highlighting that these are the forms of input that can lead to perception and further cognitive processing.