Elicited vs. Evoked

Attribute	Elicited	Evoked
Definition	Drawn out or brought forth	Called forth or provoked
Origin	Latin "elicere"	Latin "evocare"
Meaning	To bring out or evoke a response	To call forth or provoke a reaction
Usage	Commonly used in psychology and research	Commonly used in neuroscience and physiology

Definition

Elicited and evoked are two terms commonly used in psychology and neuroscience to describe responses or reactions to stimuli. Elicited typically refers to a response that is drawn out or brought forth by a specific stimulus, while evoked refers to a response that is triggered or produced by a particular stimulus.

Types of Responses

When it comes to elicited responses, they are often voluntary or intentional in nature. This means that the individual is consciously aware of the stimulus and actively chooses to respond to it. On the other hand, evoked responses are typically involuntary or automatic. These responses occur without conscious effort or awareness on the part of the individual.

Examples

An example of an elicited response would be a person raising their hand in class to answer a question. In this case, the individual is consciously choosing to respond to the stimulus of the teacher asking a question. On the other hand, an example of an evoked response would be a person blinking when a puff of air is blown into their eye. This response occurs automatically in reaction to the stimulus of the air puff.

Neurological Basis

From a neurological perspective, elicited responses are often associated with higher-order brain functions such as decision-making and executive control. These responses involve the prefrontal cortex and other areas of the brain responsible for cognitive processing. Evoked responses, on the other hand, are typically mediated by more primitive areas of the brain such as the brainstem and spinal cord. These responses are often reflexive in nature.

Applications

Both elicited and evoked responses have important applications in various fields. Elicited responses are commonly used in cognitive psychology research to study decision-making processes and behavior. Evoked responses, on the other hand, are frequently used in clinical settings to assess neurological function and diagnose conditions such as epilepsy or multiple sclerosis.

Measurement

When it comes to measuring elicited responses, researchers often rely on self-report measures or behavioral observations. These methods involve asking individuals to report on their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors in response to a stimulus. Evoked responses, on the other hand, are often measured using physiological techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) or electromyography (EMG). These methods allow researchers to directly measure the brain's electrical activity or muscle responses to a stimulus.

Conclusion

In conclusion, elicited and evoked responses are two important concepts in psychology and neuroscience that describe different types of reactions to stimuli. Elicited responses are typically voluntary and involve higher-order brain functions, while evoked responses are often involuntary and mediated by more primitive areas of the brain. Both types of responses have unique applications and can provide valuable insights into human behavior and brain function.