Assertion A: There is diminishing responsiveness of sensory systems to prolonged stimulation, as and when a person adopts to new environmental condition.
Reason R: The unchanging stimulation usually shifts into the background of awareness of the person.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
This question examines the concepts of sensory adaptation and attention.
Assertion A states that sensory systems show diminishing responsiveness to prolonged stimulation when a person adapts to a new environment. This phenomenon is known as sensory adaptation or habituation. When exposed to a constant stimulus for an extended period, our sensory receptors become less sensitive to it. This allows us to focus on new or changing stimuli in our environment.
Reason R suggests that unchanging stimulation typically shifts into the background of a person's awareness. This explains why we stop noticing persistent stimuli, like the feeling of clothes on our skin or a constant background noise. Our brain filters out these constant signals to prevent sensory overload and to prioritize novel information.
Reason R provides a direct explanation for Assertion A. The reason why sensory systems become less responsive (Assertion A) is precisely because the unchanging stimulation fades into the background of awareness (Reason R). This filtering mechanism is crucial for effective perception and adaptation.
Therefore, both Assertion A and Reason R are correct statements, and Reason R correctly explains Assertion A.