stimulus

Everyday

1. A stimulus is something that causes a living thing to react, such as light, sound, heat or touch. tree →
2. A stimulus is something that encourages activity or growth, such as a reward or extra money. tree →
3. (money) A stimulus is money a government spends to help the economy grow, such as stimulus payments. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on senses and the nervous system, a stimulus is detected by a sense organ and causes a response: touching something hot (stimulus) makes you pull your hand away (response). Plants respond to stimuli too: shoots grow towards light. Phrases: «stimulus and response», «respond to a stimulus», «a stimulus package».

Examples

• A bright light is a stimulus that makes your pupils shrink. tree →
• The bell was a stimulus that made the dogs expect food. tree →
• Plants grow towards the stimulus of light. tree →
• Touching a hot pan is a stimulus; pulling your hand away is the response. tree →
• The prize was a stimulus to work harder. tree →
• The government gave a stimulus payment to families. tree →
• Different stimuli make us react in different ways. tree →

Note

Plural: stimuli (said «STIM-you-lie»), not «stimuluses». Verb: stimulate. Do not confuse with «stimulant», which is a substance like caffeine that makes the body more active.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: This word comes from a modern English comment on the Hebrew word nefesh, "soul," in Sefer Yetzirah. The comment mixes in ideas from Theosophy, which the original text does not have. In the primary lessons: In science lessons on senses and the nervous system, a stimulus is detected by a sense organ and causes a response: touching something hot (stimulus) makes you pull your hand away (response). Plants respond to stimuli too: shoots grow towards light. Phrases: «stimulus and response», «respond to a stimulus», «a stimulus package».

Examples

• Soul; the word is NPSh, which is commonly translated soul, meaning the living personality of man, animal or existing thing : it corresponds almost to the Theosophic Prana plus the stimulus of Kama. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) tree →

Note

Plural: stimuli (said «STIM-you-lie»), not «stimuluses». Verb: stimulate. Do not confuse with «stimulant», which is a substance like caffeine that makes the body more active.