stimulant

n. any of various agents that excite functional activity in an organism or in a part of an organism. Stimulants are usually classified according to the body system or function excited (e.g., cardiac stimulants, respiratory stimulants). In psychology, the term usually refers to the CNS stimulants (or psychostimulants).

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Psychology term of the day

May 7th 2024

genetic determinism

the doctrine that human and nonhuman animal behavior and mental activity are largely (or completely) controlled by the genetic constitution of the individual and that responses to environmental influences are for the most part innately determined. See biological determinism; determinism; nature–nurture.