defense reflex

a sudden response elicited by a painful or unexpected stimulus. The term is applied to a variety of responses, ranging from an acceleration in heart rate in reaction to a startling auditory stimulus; through flight, fight, or freezing elicited by perceived threat; to complex psychological responses. Also called defense response.

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Psychology term of the day

December 26th 2024

fornix

n. (pl. fornices) any arch-shaped structure, especially the long tract of white matter in the brain arching between the hippocampus and the hypothalamus, projecting chiefly to the mammillary bodies.