phototaxis

n. movement toward or away from a light source. Positive phototaxis is movement toward light; negative phototaxis is movement away from light. Some insects display a relationship between muscular activity and light orientation. When the left eye of a fly or bee is shaded or blinded, the legs on the left side of the body work to keep the body turned toward the light that can be seen only with the right eye. See also taxis.

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

September 8th 2024

drift

1. a reduction in variation in genetic traits that can occur when sampling from continually smaller groups, such that some traits ultimately become excluded from possibility.

2. a reduction in the reliability of technical instruments orin the accuracy of observers over time. See instrument drift; observer drift.