What term describes the process by which sensory receptors receive and represent environmental stimulus energies?

The correct answer is Sensation, which refers to the initial process of how sensory receptors and the nervous system detect and respond to physical stimuli from the environment. This process involves the activation of sensory receptors—such as those for light, sound, taste, touch, and smell—allowing us to experience the world around us. Sensation is the first step in the overall experience of perception, where the brain interprets these sensory signals to create a meaningful understanding of our environment.

While other options are relevant to the overall sensory experience, they do not accurately define the reception of sensory stimuli itself. For instance, perception is the interpretation of sensory input, transduction refers to the conversion of physical stimuli into neural signals, and adaptation involves a decrease in response to a constant stimulus over time. Each of these processes plays a role in how we perceive our surroundings, but they follow the initial process of sensation where the sensory information is initially registered.