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operant behavior

behavior that produces an effect on the environment and whose likelihood of recurrence is influenced by consequences (see operant). Operant behavior is nearly synonymous with voluntary behavior.

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Psychology term of the day

January 19th 2025

short-wavelength pigment

short-wavelength pigment

the photopigment present in one of the three populations of retinal cones that has maximum sensitivity to a wavelength of 419 nm. The absence of the gene for the short-wavelength pigment causes tritanopia, a form of color blindness in which blue and green are confused with one another. See also long-wavelength pigment; medium-wavelength pigment.