stimulation

noun

stim·​u·​la·​tion ˌstim-yə-ˈlā-shən 

1

: the act or process of stimulating

2

: the stimulating action of various agents on muscles, nerves, or a sensory end organ by which activity is evoked

especially : the reaction produced in a sensory end organ by a stimulus that initiates a nerve impulse and results in functional activity of an effector (as a muscle or gland)

gastric secretion induced by stimulation of the sense of smell