arousal jag

an increase of arouses followed by a more or less sudden decrease, often accompanied by laughter as a release of tension. The abrupt fall from elevated levels of arousal to a lower, more appropriate level is thought to produce a pleasurable response. Common experiences that can produce an arousal jag include a roller-coaster ride or watching a scary movie. [introduced in 1970 by Daniel E. Berlyne]

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Psychology term of the day

September 8th 2024

NMDA receptor

a type of glutamate receptor that binds NMDA as well as glutamate. NMDA receptors are coupled to ligand-gated ion channels and are also voltage-sensitive, which enables them to participate in a variety of information-processing operations at synapses where glutamate is the neurotransmitter. The drugs of abuse ketamine and PCP are antagonists at NMDA receptors, preventing the influx of calcium ions at calcium channels, which may cause the hallucinogenic effects of these drugs. Excessive flow of calcium ions into the presynaptic neuron via the NMDA receptor is thought to contribute to glutamate toxicity. A hypothesis on the etiology of schizophrenia involves dysfunction of the NMDA glutamate receptor (see glutamate hypothesis). Compare AMPA receptor.