Both Uses

stimulate
in
Our Town
(Auto-generated)

It has already been proven that absence of scenery does not constitute a difficulty and that the cooperative imagination of the audience is stimulated by that absence.†
Scene Intr. *

stimulated = encouraged growth or excitement, or caused something to happen
I am inclined to think that this latter approach, though apparently "amateurish" and rough at first, will prove the more stimulating in the end, and will prepare for the large claim on attention and imagination in the last act.†
Scene Intr.

stimulating = interesting or exciting; or encouraging interest or excitement; or causing something to happen

Definitions:

(1) (stimulate)
to encourage growth, interest or excitement, or to cause something to happen
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)