Psychology MCAT Practice Exam

What is the term used to describe the process of decreasing responsiveness to repeated stimulation?

1. Habituation

2. Conditioning

3. Desensitization

4. Sensory adaptation

The correct answer is: Habituation

The term that describes the process of decreasing responsiveness to repeated stimulation is habituation. Habituation occurs when an individual becomes less responsive to a stimulus after continuous exposure, which allows them to focus on more novel or significant stimuli in their environment. This is a fundamental form of learning observed in various species and serves as an adaptive function, enabling organisms to conserve energy and attention for more important changes in their surroundings. While conditioning refers to learning associations between stimuli or behaviors, it does not specifically address decreased responsiveness. Desensitization, although related to reduced emotional responses to stimuli over time (often used in therapeutic contexts), is not synonymous with habituation. Sensory adaptation refers specifically to the decreased sensitivity of sensory receptors when they are continuously stimulated, which is a more physiological process than the broader learning-based concept of habituation.