psilocin

n. an indolealkylamine hallucinogen that is the principal psychoactive compound in “magic mushrooms” of the genus Psilocybe, which were used by the Aztecs for religious and ceremonial purposes. Psilocybin, first isolated in 1958, differs from psilocin only in having an additional phosphate group; it is rapidly metabolized in the body and converted to psilocin. Like other indolealkylamine hallucinogens (e.g., LSD, DMT), psilocin is active at various serotonin receptors: Agonism at 5-HT_1A and 5-HT_2A receptors in the cerebral cortex of the brain appears to be responsible for the psychoactive effects of these drugs.

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

February 23rd 2025

inbreeding

n. the mating of individuals that are closely related. Inbreeding increases the risk of perpetuating certain genetic defects in the family, as in consanguineous marriages. Inbreeding within small populations, such as geographically isolated populations, leads to increased frequency of particular mutations within such groups. This fact has been used to demonstrate the founder effect for certain cancers and other disorders. Inbreeding studies have contributed to efforts to identify and test for mutations predisposing to disease in some groups of people. Compare outbreeding.