| reinforcement | 1. <neurology> An increase of force or strength; denoting specifically the increased sharpness of the patellar reflex when the patient at the same time closes the fist tightly or pulls against the flexed fingers or contracts some other set of muscles. See: Jendrassik's manoeuvre. 2. <dentistry> A structural addition or inclusion used to give additional strength in function; e.g., bars in plastic denture base. 3. <psychology> In conditioning, the totality of the process in which the conditioned stimulus is followed by presentation of the unconditioned stimulus which, itself, elicits the response to be conditioned. See: reinforcer, schedules of reinforcement, classical conditioning, operant conditioning. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| reinforcement schedule | <psychology> A schedule prescribing when the subject is to be reinforced or rewarded in terms of temporal interval in psychological experiments. The schedule may be continuous or intermittent. (12 Dec 1998) |
| reinforcement, verbal | Use of word stimulus to strengthen a response during learning. (12 Dec 1998) |
| primary reinforcement | Satisfaction of physiological needs or drives, such as that supplied by food or sleep. (05 Mar 2000) |
| secondary reinforcement | Reinforcement through something which, while it does not satisfy the need directly, has been associated with direct satisfaction of the need, such as the effect on behaviour of a food or beer commercial on television. (05 Mar 2000) |
| social reinforcement | <psychology> The strengthening of a response with a social reward such as a nod of approval, a parent's love or attention. (12 Dec 1998) |
| alveolonasal line | A line connecting the alveolar point and the nasion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Amberg's lateral sinus line | A line dividing the angle formed by the anterior edge of the mastoid process and the temporal line. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anocutaneous line | The line between the simple columnar epithelium of the rectum and the stratified epithelium of the anal canal. Synonym: linea anocutanea, anocutaneous line, dentate line. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior axillary line | A vertical line extending inferiorly from the anterior axillary fold. Synonym: linea axillaris anterior, linea preaxillaris, preaxillary line. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior junction line | Radiographic projection of the mediastinal tissue septum between the upper lobes behind the sternum. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior median line | The line of intersection of the midsagittal plane with the anterior surface of the body. Synonym: linea mediana anterior. (05 Mar 2000) |
| arcuate line | An arching or bow-shaped line. See: arcuate line of ilium, arcuate line of rectus sheath. Synonym: linea arcuata. (05 Mar 2000) |
| arcuate line of ilium | The iliac portion of the linea terminalis of the bony pelvis. Synonym: linea arcuata ossis ilii. (05 Mar 2000) |
| arcuate line of rectus sheath | A crescentic line, not always clearly defined, which marks the lower limit of the posterior layer of the sheath of the rectus abdominis muscle. Synonym: linea arcuata vaginae musculi recti abdominis, Douglas' line, linea saemicircularis, saemicircular line. (05 Mar 2000) |