septicemia

n. a severe (usually bacterial) infection of the bloodstream, typically as a result of microorganisms invading from an infection site elsewhere in the body. Septicemia may be characterized by fever, chills, and skin eruptions. A particularly hazardous complication is spread of the infection to tissues of the nervous system. Also called bacteremia; blood poisoning. See also sepsis.

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Psychology term of the day

January 13th 2025

discontinuity hypothesis

in Gestalt psychology, the viewpoint that emphasizes the role of sudden insight and perceptual reorganization in successful discrimination learning and problem solving. According to this view, a correct answer is only recognized when its relation to the issue as a whole is discovered. Also called discontinuity theory. Compare continuity hypothesis. See also aha experience; all-or-none learning; eureka task.