OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

What do sensory receptors detect?

1. Movement and behavior

2. Changes in the environment

3. Brain waves

4. Heart rate

The correct answer is: Changes in the environment

Sensory receptors are specialized structures that play a crucial role in gathering information from the surrounding environment. They are sensitive to various stimuli, such as light, sound, temperature, and pressure, enabling organisms to perceive changes in their environment. This ability to detect these changes allows for appropriate responses, which is vital for survival. For example, photoreceptors in the eyes detect light, while mechanoreceptors in the skin respond to pressure and touch. By detecting these environmental changes, sensory receptors facilitate communication between the external world and the nervous system, contributing to the overall functioning of an organism. In contrast, movement and behavior, brain waves, and heart rate do not directly relate to the fundamental function of sensory receptors, which is solely focused on environmental detection.