drowsiness

n. a state of low alertness characterized by lowered frontal lobe (executive) functioning, difficulty in exerting mental effort, and an involuntary tendency for rapid skeletal muscle inhibition to occur. Electroencephalography shows intermittent sleep brain waves, including delta waves. See also hypersomnia; somnolence.

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Psychology term of the day

May 8th 2024

peptide

n. a short chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds. Peptides are usually identified by the number of amino acids in the chain. For example, dipeptides have two amino acids, tripeptides three, tetrapeptides four, and so on. See also polypeptide; protein.