Definition

A stimulus is anything that can trigger a physical or behavioral change. The plural of stimulus is stimuli. Examples of stimuli include irritants, sights, sounds, heat, cold, smells, or other sensations.


Review Date:1/22/2007
Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.