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vestibular receptors

nerve cells associated with the sense of balance, located in the cristae of the semicircular canals and in the maculae of the utricle and saccule. They occur in two similar forms: a hair cell enclosed in a chalicelike nerve ending and a cylindrical hair cell that synapses at its base with a nerve ending.

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Psychology term of the day

January 19th 2025

novelty seeking

novelty seeking

1. a personality trait characterized by a strong interest in having new experiences; it is often associated with risk-taking behavior, and hence the term may be used synonymously with sensation seeking. It is also increasingly the preferred term for neophilia.

2. see Cloninger’s psychobiological model of personality; Temperament and Character Inventory.