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ataxia

n. inability to perform coordinated voluntary movements. It may be seen as a symptom of various disorders, such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy, or it can occur in isolation. It can be heritable, as in Friedreich’s ataxia, or acquired from injury or infection affecting the nervous system. When due to damage to the cerebellum, it is called cerebellar ataxia, and when due to loss of sensory feedback from the muscles and joints, it is called sensory ataxia. —ataxic adj.

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Psychology term of the day

January 13th 2025

somatic obsession

somatic obsession

preoccupation with one’s body or any part of it. This concern may be associated with compulsive checking of the body part (e.g., in a mirror or by touch), comparing oneself to others, and seeking reassurance about one’s body. Somatic obsession is the central feature of body dysmorphic disorder but may also be a feature of obsessive-compulsive disorder if other obsessive-compulsive symptoms are present.