Which term describes a reduction in receiver sensitivity caused by adjacent high-level signals?

Desensitizing refers specifically to the reduction in receiver sensitivity that occurs when high-level signals from adjacent channels or frequencies interfere with the desired signal. This phenomenon arises because the strong signals can overwhelm the receiver's ability to detect weaker signals, effectively lowering its sensitivity.

Receiving systems are designed to pick up signals within a certain range of amplitudes, and when a stronger signal is present, it can create a condition where the receiver is less capable of identifying and accurately processing weaker signals. This is particularly important in situations where signals are closely spaced in frequency, or when high-power transmissions are made nearby.

The other terms relate to different concepts: noise figure quantifies the noise performance of a receiver, dynamic range describes the range between the smallest and largest signals the receiver can process without distortion, and interference generally refers to the degradation of signal quality caused by other signals but does not specifically denote the sensitivity reduction aspect tied to high-level adjacent signals. Understanding the specific nature of desensitizing helps in diagnosing and resolving receiver performance issues in various communication scenarios.