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Psychological Terms – Amine
An amine is an organic compound derived from ammonia (NH₃) in which hydrogen atoms are replaced by hydrocarbon groups. Many biologically important amines act as neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin, histamine, and norepinephrine, making them central to brain function and psychological processes.
An amine is an organic compound derived from ammonia (NH₃) in which hydrogen atoms are replaced by hydrocarbon groups. Many biologically important amines act as neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin, histamine, and norepinephrine, making them central to brain function and psychological processes.
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Psychological Terms – Amino Acid
An amino acid is any organic compound that contains both an amino group (NH₂) and a carboxyl group (COOH). Out of more than 100 amino acids found in nature, twenty form the essential building blocks of all peptides, polypeptides, and proteins that make up living cells. These include non-essential amino acids, which the body can manufacture, and essential amino acids, which must be consumed in the diet. Amino acids are vital in numerous psychological and neurological functions because many of them—such as glutamic acid, glycine, and tyrosine—are precursors or components of neurotransmitters.
Related biochemical concepts include aspartic acid, creatine, DOPA, phenylalanine, tryptophan, and codons, which link amino acids to the genetic code.
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Psychological Terms – Amitril
Amitril is a brand (trade) name for the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline. It belongs to an early generation of antidepressants and is now often superseded by newer medications, but remains clinically relevant.
Amitril is a brand (trade) name for the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline. It belongs to an early generation of antidepressants and is now often superseded by newer medications, but remains clinically relevant.
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Psychological Terms – Amitriptyline
Amitriptyline hydrochloride is a prominent tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) used to treat major depression and sometimes eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa when depression is present. It is also prescribed for certain forms of nerve-related pain.
The drug works by blocking the reuptake of monoamine neurotransmitters, particularly serotonin and norepinephrine, increasing their concentration at central nervous system synapses. Amitriptyline is sold under names such as Amitril, Elavil, Endep, Laroxyl, Saroten, and Triptafen.
Amitriptyline hydrochloride is a prominent tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) used to treat major depression and sometimes eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa when depression is present. It is also prescribed for certain forms of nerve-related pain.
The drug works by blocking the reuptake of monoamine neurotransmitters, particularly serotonin and norepinephrine, increasing their concentration at central nervous system synapses. Amitriptyline is sold under names such as Amitril, Elavil, Endep, Laroxyl, Saroten, and Triptafen.
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Psychological Terms – Ammon’s Horn
Ammon’s horn is another name for the major part of the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for learning, memory, and spatial navigation. Together with the subiculum and the dentate gyrus, it forms the hippocampal formation.
The name derives from the Egyptian deity Ammon, often depicted with ram’s horns—resembling the curved hippocampal structure. Damage to this area is strongly associated with amnesia, especially the inability to form new memories.
Ammon’s horn is another name for the major part of the hippocampus, a brain region crucial for learning, memory, and spatial navigation. Together with the subiculum and the dentate gyrus, it forms the hippocampal formation.
The name derives from the Egyptian deity Ammon, often depicted with ram’s horns—resembling the curved hippocampal structure. Damage to this area is strongly associated with amnesia, especially the inability to form new memories.
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Psychological Terms – Amnesia
Amnesia refers broadly to memory loss, usually affecting declarative memory more than procedural memory. The loss may involve failure to recall past events or difficulty creating new long-term memories.
Major related forms include:
The word derives from Greek, meaning “without memory.”
Amnesia refers broadly to memory loss, usually affecting declarative memory more than procedural memory. The loss may involve failure to recall past events or difficulty creating new long-term memories.
Major related forms include:
- Anterograde amnesia – difficulty forming new memories
- Retrograde amnesia – inability to recall previously stored memories
The word derives from Greek, meaning “without memory.”
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Psychological Terms – Amnesic Syndrome
Amnesic syndrome refers to the same condition as amnestic disorder, involving substantial impairment in forming or retrieving long-term memories, while other cognitive capacities may remain relatively intact.
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Psychological Terms – Ambilingual
An ambilingual person can speak two languages with equal fluency and competence, displaying what linguists call balanced bilingualism. This level of proficiency implies a high degree of cognitive flexibility and mental adaptability, as ambilingual individuals often switch seamlessly between linguistic systems. Psychological studies link ambilingualism to enhanced executive function, improved working memory, and delayed cognitive decline in old age. The term derives from Latin ambi- (“both”) and lingua (“tongue”), reflecting dual linguistic mastery.
An ambilingual person can speak two languages with equal fluency and competence, displaying what linguists call balanced bilingualism. This level of proficiency implies a high degree of cognitive flexibility and mental adaptability, as ambilingual individuals often switch seamlessly between linguistic systems. Psychological studies link ambilingualism to enhanced executive function, improved working memory, and delayed cognitive decline in old age. The term derives from Latin ambi- (“both”) and lingua (“tongue”), reflecting dual linguistic mastery.
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Psychological Terms – Ambiguity Aversion
Ambiguity aversion describes the tendency to favor options with known probabilities over those involving uncertainty. This bias was first illustrated by the Ellsberg paradox, where participants prefer to bet on a known chance of success rather than an unknown one, even when expected outcomes are identical. Psychologically, ambiguity aversion highlights the role of risk perception, cognitive bias, and emotional regulation in decision-making. It has broad applications in behavioral economics and cognitive psychology, where it demonstrates how humans prioritize psychological comfort over logical probability. Neuroimaging studies link this aversion to heightened activity in the amygdala and anterior insula, regions associated with anxiety and uncertainty processing.
Ambiguity aversion describes the tendency to favor options with known probabilities over those involving uncertainty. This bias was first illustrated by the Ellsberg paradox, where participants prefer to bet on a known chance of success rather than an unknown one, even when expected outcomes are identical. Psychologically, ambiguity aversion highlights the role of risk perception, cognitive bias, and emotional regulation in decision-making. It has broad applications in behavioral economics and cognitive psychology, where it demonstrates how humans prioritize psychological comfort over logical probability. Neuroimaging studies link this aversion to heightened activity in the amygdala and anterior insula, regions associated with anxiety and uncertainty processing.
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Psychological Terms – Ambiguity Tolerance
Ambiguity tolerance refers to an individual’s ability to cope with uncertainty, complexity, or conflicting information without undue anxiety or avoidance. People high in ambiguity tolerance demonstrate open-mindedness, creativity, and flexible thinking, while low tolerance is associated with dogmatism and authoritarian personality traits. In psychological assessment, ambiguity tolerance predicts adaptability and innovation, particularly in problem-solving, leadership, and intercultural competence. It is also crucial in psychotherapy, where clients must tolerate uncertainty about emotional change and self-discovery.
Ambiguity tolerance refers to an individual’s ability to cope with uncertainty, complexity, or conflicting information without undue anxiety or avoidance. People high in ambiguity tolerance demonstrate open-mindedness, creativity, and flexible thinking, while low tolerance is associated with dogmatism and authoritarian personality traits. In psychological assessment, ambiguity tolerance predicts adaptability and innovation, particularly in problem-solving, leadership, and intercultural competence. It is also crucial in psychotherapy, where clients must tolerate uncertainty about emotional change and self-discovery.
