Intermediate
Technical
IVT
receptive field
The specific region of sensory space where stimuli can influence a neuron's firing rate.
Full Definition
A receptive field defines the spatial, temporal, or feature-specific domain within which stimuli can modulate a neuron's activity. In vision, this refers to the retinal area affecting a visual neuron; in somatosensation, the skin region affecting a touch neuron. Receptive fields can be excitatory, inhibitory, or have complex center-surround organizations. Mapping receptive fields is fundamental to understanding sensory processing and appears throughout neuroscience literature describing sensory system organization and plasticity.
Usage
Usage note: Not to be confused with 'visual field,' which refers to the entire area visible to an organism.
In Context
- "The neuron's receptive field expanded following sensory deprivation." — Plasticity research paper
- "Mapping receptive fields revealed abnormal organization in the patient's visual cortex." — Clinical neurophysiology study
Also known as
response field
Don't confuse with
visual field
cortical column