neurotoxin

n. any substance that is destructive to the central or peripheral nervous system, causing temporary or permanent damage. Heavy metals such as lead and mercury, some pesticides and industrial or cleaning solvents, some drugs (e.g., those used in chemotherapy), and snake venom are examples of substances with the capacity (neurotoxicity) to produce this effect. —neurotoxic adj.

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Psychology term of the day

May 9th 2024

psychonomic

adj. denoting an approach to psychology that emphasizes quantitative measurement, experimental control, and operational definitions, especially in the area of experimental, laboratory psychology. The word was coined to provide a name for the Psychonomic Society, which was created in 1959 by a number of experimental psychologists who were opposed to what they regarded as a swing in the American Psychological Association toward an emphasis on the mental health concerns of psychology. See experimental psychology.