Transduction (physiology)

In physiology, transduction is the conversion of a stimulus from one form to another.

Transduction in the nervous systemtypically refers to synapticevents wherein an electricalsignal, known as an action potential, is converted into a chemicalone via the release of neurotransmitters. Conversely, in sensory transduction a chemical or physical stimulusis transduced by sensory receptorsinto an electrical signal.

For example, in the visual system, sensory cells called rod cellsin the retinaconvert the physical energy of lightsignals into electrical impulsesthat travel to the brain. The light causes a conformational change in a protein called rhodopsin. This conformational change sets in motion a series of molecular events that result in a reduction of the electrochemical gradient of the photoreceptor. The decrease in the electrochemical gradient causes a reduction in the electrical signals going to the brain. Thus, in this example, more light hitting the photoreceptor results in the transduction of a signal into fewer electrical impulses.

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It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transduction+%28physiology%29 Wikipedia article Transduction (physiology).