excitatory
adjective
ex·cit·ato·ry
ik-ˈsī-tə-ˌtȯr-ē 
: exhibiting, resulting from, relating to, or producing excitement or excitation
excitatory nerve fibers
Examples of excitatory in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Their job is to manage the timing and flow of brain signals and keep excitatory neurons under control.
—
Lauren Aguirre, Scientific American, 22 July 2019
In effect, the network was turning the knobs on inhibitory processes, not excitatory ones, with the TRN inhibiting information that the prefrontal cortex deemed distracting.
—Quanta Magazine, 24 Sep. 2019
Patel notes that, because anxiety can be caused by too many excitatory neurotransmitters, GABA supplements may be the most helpful.
—Jenna Birch, Woman's Day, 30 Aug. 2019
Because the connections between inhibitory neurons are long-range, any inhibitory signals that randomly arise spread faster than random excitatory signals — exactly what’s needed for a Turing-like mechanism.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Quanta Magazine, 30 July 2018
When excitatory neurons are firing to your left leg muscles, for example, inhibitory ones are firing to your right.
—Steph Yin, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2018
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Lauren Aguirre, Scientific American, 22 July 2019
In effect, the network was turning the knobs on inhibitory processes, not excitatory ones, with the TRN inhibiting information that the prefrontal cortex deemed distracting.
—Quanta Magazine, 24 Sep. 2019
Patel notes that, because anxiety can be caused by too many excitatory neurotransmitters, GABA supplements may be the most helpful.
—Jenna Birch, Woman's Day, 30 Aug. 2019
Because the connections between inhibitory neurons are long-range, any inhibitory signals that randomly arise spread faster than random excitatory signals — exactly what’s needed for a Turing-like mechanism.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Quanta Magazine, 30 July 2018
When excitatory neurons are firing to your left leg muscles, for example, inhibitory ones are firing to your right.
—Steph Yin, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2018
Dictionary Entries Near excitatory
Cite this Entry
“Excitatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excitatory. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
excitatory
adjective
ex·cit·ato·ry
ik-ˈsīt-ə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr-
1
: tending to induce excitation (as of a neuron)
excitatory substances
excitatory and inhibitory pathways from the brain—W. G. Van der Kloot
W. G. Van der Kloot2
: exhibiting, resulting from, related to, or produced by excitement or excitation
an excitatory postsynaptic potential
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share