What is the term for our capacity to detect environmental stimuli that we may not be consciously aware of?

The correct term for the capacity to detect environmental stimuli that we may not be consciously aware of is sensation. Sensation involves the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment. This process occurs without the need for conscious awareness, allowing us to respond to stimuli even when we are not actively focused on them.

For instance, you may not consciously notice the background noise of a fan or the feeling of your clothes against your skin, but your sensory receptors are still registering this information, which is a key characteristic of sensation.

Perception, on the other hand, refers to how we interpret and make sense of those sensations, involving awareness and cognitive processing. Attention indicates the focus required to consciously process certain stimuli, while consciousness involves our overall awareness of thoughts, feelings, and the environment. In contrast to sensation, those latter concepts involve a level of mental engagement and awareness.