Find over 25,000 psychological definitions


nutmeg

n. the seed of the trees Myristica acuminata and M. fragrans, which are indigenous to the Moluccas (Indonesia) and cultivated in South America, the Philippines, and the West Indies. It has a history of folk use as a remedy for stomach and gastrointestinal complaints. Nutmeg has volatile oils containing elemecin, myristicin, and other active ingredients that in sufficient doses produce intoxicating effects, some of which have been compared to those produced by cannabis. In larger doses, nutmeg is poisonous; signs of toxicity include abnormally dilated or contracted pupils, hallucinations, severe nausea and vomiting, and rapid heartbeat. See also mace.

Browse dictionary by letter

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Psychology term of the day

January 11th 2025

dose–response relationship

dose–response relationship

a principle relating the potency of a drug to the efficacy of that drug in affecting a target symptom or organ system. Potency refers to the amount of a drug necessary to produce the desired effect; efficacy refers to the drug’s ability to act at a target receptor or organ to produce the desired effect. Dose–response curves may be graded, suggesting a continuous relationship between dose and effect, or quantal, wherein the desired effect is an either–or phenomenon, such as prevention of arrhythmias. There is considerable variability among individuals in response to a given dose of a particular drug.