extraneous stimuli

USAGE SUMMARY

"extraneous stimuli" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to additional stimuli beyond the ones being studied or considered in a particular situation. For example, "In order to obtain accurate results, any extraneous stimuli must be eliminated."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Spontaneous calcium signaling was observed in chondrocytes within both normal (ICRS 0) and OA (ICRS 1 3) articular cartilages without extraneous stimuli.

Nature

Attention can be defined as the ability to focus on one stimulus or task while resisting focus on the extraneous impulses; people with ADHD may have reduced ability to resist focus on these extraneous stimuli.

Britannica

In the first row (top), there are no extraneous stimuli near the saccade target.

SEP

Responses of mice to light were assessed within their home-cage and free from extraneous stimuli.

European Journal of Neuroscience

Distractibility, which can manifest as a failure to ignore extraneous stimuli, is one of the core symptoms of ADHD.

Biological Psychiatry

Attention allows concentration on a specific target stimulus over a span of time, while avoiding distraction from extraneous stimuli.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

In the fourth row, changing the location of the extraneous stimulus eliminates the COG bias: because the extraneous stimulus is near the point of fixation rather than the saccade target, the saccade is accurate.

SEP

In the second row, by contrast, the location of an extraneous stimulus results in a saccade from the point of fixation that undershoots its target, while in the third row the saccade overshoots its target.

SEP

Observers, e.g., will perceptually underestimate the length of the distance between the point of fixation and the saccade target when there is an extraneous stimulus on the near side of the target (as in the second row of Figure 3) and will perceptually overestimate the length of the distance when there is an extraneous stimulus on the far side of the target (as in the third row of Figure 3).

SEP

Asked how, when performing music, he balances the ideas and feelings in his head with the external stimuli of the audience, the place he is performing, and extraneous sounds, Mr. Metheny explained his approach.

The New York Times - Science

Asked how, when performing music, he balances the ideas and feelings in his head with the external stimuli of the audience, the place he is performing, and extraneous sounds, Mr. Metheny explained his approach.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing scientific or technical content, clearly define what constitutes "extraneous stimuli" within your specific context to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "extraneous stimuli" when you simply mean stimuli originating from outside the system or subject. "Extraneous" implies irrelevance or unwanted interference, while "external" only indicates origin.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extraneous stimuli" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb or the object of a preposition. It refers to sensory inputs that are irrelevant or interfering in a specific context, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

News & Media

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "extraneous stimuli" is a grammatically correct and usable noun phrase, as validated by Ludwig. It is used to denote irrelevant or interfering sensory inputs, particularly in scientific and academic contexts. While the phrase is not very common, it is important in fields where controlling environmental factors is crucial for obtaining reliable results. According to Ludwig, the examples show that it’s crucial in studies of attention, perception, and biological circuits. The most important thing to consider when using this phrase is to make sure you are referring to something truly irrelevant and unwanted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

irrelevant stimuli

Focuses on the lack of relevance of the stimuli.

extraneous sensory information

Highlights the source of the stimuli as sensory and unnecessary.

external distractions

Highlights the distracting nature of the external elements.

non-essential sensory data

Underscores the non-essential nature of the sensory data.

unrelated sensory inputs

Emphasizes that the inputs are not connected to the task or context.

unnecessary environmental inputs

Points out that environmental factors are not needed.

background noise

Implies a constant, often unwanted, presence of stimuli.

peripheral stimuli

Indicates stimuli that are not central to the focus of attention.

secondary stimuli

Suggests the stimuli are of lesser importance.

ambient interference

Describes a general disruptive effect from the surrounding environment.

FAQs

How can I use "extraneous stimuli" in a sentence?

You can use "extraneous stimuli" to describe irrelevant or interfering sensory inputs in an experiment or study. For example, "To ensure accurate results, we minimized "extraneous stimuli" in the testing environment."

What's the difference between "extraneous stimuli" and "external stimuli"?

"Extraneous stimuli" refers to irrelevant or interfering stimuli, while "external stimuli" simply means stimuli coming from the outside. All extraneous stimuli are external, but not all external stimuli are extraneous. For example, in a vision test the TV in the background is "extraneous stimuli", the eye chart are external but not extraneous.

What can I say instead of "extraneous stimuli"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "irrelevant stimuli", "external distractions", or "unrelated sensory inputs". Each of these "alternative phrases" emphasizes a different aspect of the stimuli.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the phrase "extraneous stimuli"?

The phrase "extraneous stimuli" is appropriate in scientific, academic, and technical contexts where it's necessary to specify unwanted or irrelevant sensory inputs that could affect results or observations. For example, in studies about attention or perception, or even in studies about sleep disturbances.