What is the function of a sensory neuron?

What is the function of a sensory neuron?

• A. Transmit impulses from CNS to effector
• B. Detect stimuli
• C. Transmit impulses from receptor to CNS
• D. Store information

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is the direction in which the signal travels. Sensory neurons carry information from sensory receptors toward the brain or spinal cord, linking the detection of a stimulus to the processing center. They detect changes such as touch, temperature, or light at their receptor endings and convert that input into electrical impulses that travel along the neuron to the CNS for interpretation. This is why their job is to transmit impulses from receptor to CNS. If impulses were sent from the CNS to a muscle or gland, that would be the job of motor neurons; simply detecting stimuli isn’t the function of the neuron itself (the receptors or specialized sensory cells handle initial detection), and storing information isn’t the role of these neurons either.

The main idea here is the direction in which the signal travels. Sensory neurons carry information from sensory receptors toward the brain or spinal cord, linking the detection of a stimulus to the processing center. They detect changes such as touch, temperature, or light at their receptor endings and convert that input into electrical impulses that travel along the neuron to the CNS for interpretation. This is why their job is to transmit impulses from receptor to CNS. If impulses were sent from the CNS to a muscle or gland, that would be the job of motor neurons; simply detecting stimuli isn’t the function of the neuron itself (the receptors or specialized sensory cells handle initial detection), and storing information isn’t the role of these neurons either.