substance P

a neuropeptide that functions as a neurotransmitter in both peripheral and central nervous systems. It belongs to the neurokinin family of transmitters. High concentrations of neurons containing substance P are localized in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, where they play a role in the modulation of pain. In peripheral tissues, substance P acts as a vasodilator. It also has a role in sexual behavior and has been implicated in the regulation of mood.

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 2nd 2025

rebus writing

the use of symbols to represent the sounds of language. If each phonetic sound is assigned its own unique symbol, the number of symbols needed within a writing system is substantially reduced.