What is the process by which sensory receptors and the nervous system receive stimuli from the environment?

The process referred to in the question is sensation. Sensation involves the detection of physical energy (stimuli) from the environment by sensory receptors, such as those in the eyes, ears, skin, and other sensory organs. These receptors convert the physical signals into neural signals, which are then transmitted to the brain for further processing.

To elaborate, sensation is distinct from perception. While sensation involves the initial gathering and transmission of sensory information, perception is the subsequent interpretation or understanding of this sensory information in the context of our experiences and the environment.

Transduction, while related, specifically refers to the conversion of stimuli into neural impulses, which is a component of the sensation process but does not encompass the entire reception of stimuli. Integration pertains to how the brain combines sensory information to form a complete picture but does not describe the initial reception of sensory inputs. Therefore, the best answer that captures the entire process of receiving stimuli from the environment is sensation.