Stimulus Role

Definition

The role of a stimulus in a behavioral experiment is attributed to the object(s) which are presented to the subject in a controlled manner in the context of the experiment.

Definition Source

JT and AL

Parent Entity

BFO: Role

Example

In an auditory oddball experiment, tones are the stimuli, which are categorized as either non-target (low frequency) or target (high-frequency) tones. The distinction of whether the stimulus is a target or non-target is qualified by the stimulus role.

Logical Restrictions

Not all stimuli have roles; in these cases, the stimulus is simply a generic stimulus.

Comments

A stimulus role is played by the Implicit Stimulus or Explicit Stimulus (the latter is characterized by a Stimulus Modality).

Original suggestions included: "The occurrent or continuant (i.e., the thingie) which elicits activity from the subject in the experiment". Its suggested definition in other fields includes:

• Anything that may have an impact or influence on a system
• (physiology) Something external that elicits or influences a physiological or psychological activity or response.
• (psychology) Anything effectively impinging upon any of the sensory apparatuses of a living organism, including physical phenomena both internal and external to the body.
• Anything that induces a person to take action

We define a stimulus as a role so that ontologies of tones, lights, pictures, and other "things" can be imported as references to the objects which play the role of stimulus in a given experimental condition.

Created Date

2009/11/12

Curator

JT and AL

Curation Status

pending final vetting

Sub-Classes

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