Final answer:
Encoding is the process by which sensory systems convert stimulus information, such as intensity and stretch, into a meaningful pattern of action potentials that the CNS can interpret. This is crucial for the perception and differentiation of various stimuli that the brain receives and processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that refers to the conversion of stimulus information into a meaningful pattern of action potentials is encoding. Encoding involves the translation of physical stimulus properties into a pattern of nervous system activity, such as a series of action potentials that can be correctly interpreted by the CNS. Various aspects of sensory information, such as type, location, duration, and intensity of the stimulus, are encoded by sensory systems, which allow the brain to differentiate and understand the signals it receives from different receptors.
Encoding and Action Potentials
For instance, an increase in the firing frequency of neurons in response to greater stimulus strength and stretch in sensory fibers indicates that the system is encoding the intensity of the stimulus. A stronger stimulus usually results in more rapid firing rates of action potentials and the activation of more receptors. These encoded signals are sent to the CNS where they undergo integration and form part of the perception process.
Summation of Action Potentials
Another concept is wave summation, important for increasing the tension in skeletal muscles during repetitive stimulation. When additional action potentials arrive before the previous twitch relaxes, there is a cumulative effect resulting in a stronger muscle contraction. This exemplifies the importance of temporal encoding and summation in nervous system signaling.