| MJA | mechanical joint apparatus |
|---|---|
| MLBP | mechanical low back pain |
| MMP | matrix metalloproteinase; muscle mechanical power |
| MS | Maffuci syndrome; maladjustment score; mandibular series; Marfan syndrome; Marie-Strumpell [syndrome... |
| MV | measles virus; mechanical ventilation; megavolt; microvascular; microvillus; minute volume; mitral v... |
| homologous stimulus | A stimulus that acts only on the nerve terminations in a special sense organ. (05 Mar 2000) |
|---|---|
| stimulus | Origin: L, for stigmulus, akin to L. Instigare to stimulate. See Instigare, Stick. 1. A goad; hence, something that rouses the mind or spirits; an incentive; as, the hope of gain is a powerful stimulus to labour and action. 2. <physiology> That which excites or produces a temporary increase of vital action, either in the whole organism or in any of its parts; especially, any substance or agent capable of evoking the activity of a nerve or irritable muscle, or capable of producing an impression upon a sensory organ or more particularly upon its specific end organ. Of the stimuli applied to the sensory apparatus, physiologists distinguish two kinds: (a) Homologous stimuli, which act only upon the end organ, and for whose action the sense organs are especially adapted, as the rods and cones of the retina for the vibrations of the either. (b) Heterologous stimuli, which are mechanical, chemical, electrical, etc, and act upon the nervous elements of the sensory apparatus along their entire course, producing, for example, the flash of light beheld when the eye is struck. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| stimulus control | The use of conditioning techniques to bring the target behaviour of an individual under environmental control. See: classical conditioning. (05 Mar 2000) |
| stimulus generalisation | <psychology> The tendency to react to stimuli that are different from, but somewhat similar to, the stimulus used as a conditioned stimulus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| stimulus generalization | In Pavlovian conditioning, the eliciting of a conditioned response by stimuli never before experienced but which are similar to a particular conditioned stimulus. See: conditioning, classical conditioning. (05 Mar 2000) |
| stimulus secretion coupling | A term used to describe the events that link receipt of a stimulus with the release of materials from membrane bounded vesicles (the analogy is with excitation contraction coupling in the control of muscle contraction). A classical example is the link between membrane depolarisation at the presynaptic terminal and the release of neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft. (18 Nov 1997) |
| stimulus sensitive myoclonus | Myoclonus induced by a variety of stimuli, e.g., talking, calculation, loud noises, tapping, etc. (05 Mar 2000) |
| stimulus substitution | <psychology> Learning that takes place when a conditioned stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus. (12 Dec 1998) |
| stimulus threshold | The lowest limit of any perception whatever. Compare: differential threshold. Synonym: stimulus threshold. (05 Mar 2000) |
| stimulus word | The word used in association tests to evoke a response. (05 Mar 2000) |
| neutral stimulus | When paired with the unconditioned stimulus in simultaneous presentation to an organism, capable of eliciting a given response. (05 Mar 2000) |
| subliminal stimulus | A stimulus too weak to evoke a response. Synonym: subliminal stimulus, subthreshold stimulus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| subthreshold stimulus | A stimulus too weak to evoke a response. Synonym: subliminal stimulus, subthreshold stimulus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| supramaximal stimulus | A stimulus having strength significantly above that required to activate all of the nerve or muscle fibres in contact with the electrode; used when response of all the fibres is desired. (05 Mar 2000) |
| discriminant stimulus | A stimulus which can be differentiated from all other stimulus in the environment because it has been, and continues to serve as, an indicator of a potential reinforcer. (05 Mar 2000) |