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hallucinogen

n. a substance capable of producing a sensory effect (visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, or tactile) in the absence of an actual stimulus. Because they produce alterations in perception, cognition, and mood, hallucinogens are also called psychedelic drugs or psychedelics (from the Greek, meaning “mind-manifesting”). They are a group of heterogeneous compounds, many of which are naturally occurring; others are produced synthetically. Many hallucinogens are structurally similar to one of several neurotransmitters, which may be used as a mechanism of categorization. For example, serotonin-like hallucinogens include the indolealkylamines, exemplified by lysergic acid diethylamide (see LSD), psilocin, DMT, DET, and bufotenin; catecholamine-like hallucinogens include the phenylethylamines and their derivatives, such as mescaline, DOM, MDA, and MDMA. Both classes in general produce visual hallucinations via activity on subtypes of serotonin receptors. Other hallucinogens include PCP and various natural substances, including ayahuasca. —hallucinogenic adj.

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Psychology term of the day

December 7th 2024

integrity testing

integrity testing

procedures used to determine whether employees or applicants for employment are likely to engage in counterproductive work behavior. Overt integrity tests are inventories that directly ask people about their past behaviors and their attitudes toward unethical, illegal, and counterproductive behavior. Personality-based integrity tests are inventories measuring the character traits thought to be related to unethical, illegal, and counterproductive behavior. Integrity tests are sometimes called honesty tests.