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decisional competence

the ability of a defendant to make the decisions normally faced in a criminal defense (e.g., deciding among various plea agreements). See also competency evaluation; competency to stand trial; Dusky standard.

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Psychology term of the day

February 1st 2025

A fiber

A fiber

a myelinated nerve fiber (axon) of the somatosensory system. A fibers are subdivided by diameter, ranging from largest to smallest: A-alpha fibers are 13 to 20 μm in diameter and transmit information from proprioceptors of skeletal muscles, A-beta fibers are 6 to 12 μm and transmit information from mechanoreceptors of the skin, and A-delta fibers are 1 to 5 μm and transmit temperature and sharp pain information. See also B fiber; C fiber.