looming

n. a type of space perception in which the retinal image of an object is magnified as the object approaches the observer. Reactions to looming vary: Chicks run away, kittens avert their heads, monkeys leap backward while making alarm cries, and human infants attempt to withdraw their heads at 2 weeks and blink at 3 weeks.

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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.