Receptor potential refers to the graded electrical change that occurs in sensory receptor cells when they are activated by an appropriate stimulus. This change is part of the process of sensory transduction, where an external stimulus (like light, sound, or pressure) is converted into an electrical signal that can be interpreted by the nervous system. When a sensory receptor is stimulated, it typically causes the opening or closing of ion channels in the cell membrane, leading to a change in the membrane potential.
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