Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
An excitatory drug is a substance that enhances neural firing and increases the activity of neurons in the brain, leading to increased communication between cells.
Related terms
Inhibitory drug: A substance that reduces or inhibits neural firing, slowing down or decreasing the activity of neurons.
Neurotransmitter release: The process by which neurotransmitters are released from one neuron into the synapse to transmit signals to another neuron.
Paradoxical effect: When a drug has an unexpected or opposite effect compared to what is typically expected based on its classification.