spike-wave activity

the pattern produced by an action potential of a neuron when amplified and projected onto the screen of an oscilloscope or a computer monitor. The waveform appears as a sharp, high peak, followed by a short dip below the baseline (the afterpotential), then a return to the predischarge level. The amplitude of the wave spike indicates the intensity of the discharge.

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Psychology term of the day

December 26th 2024

false self

in the object relations theory of British psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott (1896–1971), the self that develops as a defense against impingements and in adaptation to the environment. This contrasts with the true self, which develops in an environment that adapts to the infant and allows him or her to discover and express true impulses.