What is the term for when stimulus energy is collected by the sense organ?

The term that refers to the collection of stimulus energy by the sense organ is reception. This process involves the detection of stimuli by sensory receptors, which then convert physical energy into neural signals that can be processed by the brain. For instance, in the case of sight, the eyes receive light waves, while the ears pick up sound waves. Reception is the foundational step in the perceptual process that allows us to experience and interpret sensory information.

Transmission refers to the process that follows reception, where the neural signals are sent to the brain for further processing. Sensation is a broader term that describes the experience of the stimuli after they have been received and transmitted, and selection pertains to the filtering process in perception where certain stimuli are focused on while others are ignored. Understanding these distinctions reinforces why reception is the correct choice in this context.