Neurology

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ANTAGONIST

n. 1. An agent, for example a drug or hormone, that works to reduce the action of an agonist -

APAREUNIA

n. the inability to perform sexual intercourse due to medical complications. 2. abstinence from coitus as a conscious choice.

APPLIED SCIENCE

an approach to science in which scientific principles and theories are applied in practical ways, for example, in the development

AROUSAL JAG

an increase of activation followed by a sudden decrease, often accompanied by laughter to signify a release of tension. The

ASONIA

n. refers to a form of sensory amusia characterized by inability to distinguish differences in pitch. Also known as tone

ASYMPTOTE

n. 1. in statistics, a hypothetical straight line that a regular curve approaches but never reaches, as it approaches infinity.

ATTENTION-DEFICITHYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD AHD)

in DSM-IV-TR, this represents a behavioral syndrome characterized by the persistent presence (i.e., for 6 months or more) of six

AUDITORY BLENDING

the ability to synthesize the individual sounds (phonemes) of a word so that the whole word can be comprehended or

AUTISTIC FANTASY

a specific type of defense mechanism in which a person deals with emotional stress by retreating into excessive daydreaming as

AUTOPEDOPHILIA

n. refers to the gaining of sexual pleasure from dressing as a child, pretending to be a child, or having

BABINSKI REFLEX

the innate reflex occurring in a healthy infant whereby the toes extend upward when the sole of the foot is

BASELINE

n. a line that serves as a basis or reference point for observing behavior. Because this behavioral performance is stable,

BEHAVIORAL CRITERION

n. the distinct behavior which must consistently exist in an individual in order for a diagnosis to be accurately made.

BELL CURVE

n. in statistics, refers to the classic curve obtained from plotting the graph of a normal distribution. This curve is

BIOCHEMICAL DEFECT

n. a metabolic defect which contibutes to the onset of a neurological or psychiatric condition. This defect may either be

BIOPHYSICAL SYSTEM

n. any biological process which is studied on a system level. Thus, it is studied and described as to its

BLOCKING

n. a phenomenon in which a previously-learned thought process prevents or delays the learning and conditioning of new behavior. It

BRAIN COMPARATOR

n. a structure which exists theoretically in the brain, the function of which would be to compare an intended movement

BUNDLE HYPOTHESIS

n. a hypothesis which states that a whole is merely the sum of its parts. First proposed by German-American psychologist

CARTESIAN DUALISM

n. a principle which essentially states that the mind and body are non-identical. The body (and brain) are made of