dopamine-receptor agonist

any drug or other agent that binds to and directly activates dopamine receptors, producing physiological effects that mimic those of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Bromocriptine is an example. Because parkinsonism is associated with a deficiency of dopamine in the brain, drugs that help to maintain adequate levels of dopamine are valuable in treating the disorder. Dopamine-receptor agonists are used to manage some of the drug-induced parkinsonian symptoms associated with use of antipsychotic drugs; they are also used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, galactorrhea, and prolactin-secreting tumors of the pituitary gland. Also called dopaminergic agent.

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Psychology term of the day

May 8th 2024

integrative agnosia

a form of visual agnosia in which individuals are able to perceive the elements of an object but find it difficult to combine them into a perceptual whole. Typically, symptoms of both apperceptive and associative agnosia are present. Individuals affected by this kind of agnosia can usually draw an object accurately but only through a laborious process.