Agonist
Definition
An agonist is a substance that initiates a physiological response when combined with a receptor. In terms of neuroscience, it mimics the action of a naturally occurring substance.
Related terms
Antagonist: A substance that blocks or dampens a biological response by binding to and blocking a receptor rather than activating it like an agonist.
Partial Agonist: A drug that binds to and activates a given receptor but has only partial efficacy at the receptor relative to a full agonist.
Inverse Agonist: A substance that produces effects opposite those of particular neurotransmitters.
"Agonist" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Anatomy & Physiology
Study guides (1)
AP Psychology - 2.4 Neural Firing
Practice Questions (1)
Which drug is likely to increase neural firing by acting as an agonist?
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About Us
About Fiveable
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Privacy Policy
CCPA Privacy Policy
Resources
Cram Mode
AP Score Calculators
Study Guides
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Glossary
Cram Events
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Crisis Text Line
Help Center
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.