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.
Analogy
Imagine you lost your keys but your neighbor has an extra set that opens your door too. The agonist is like your neighbor’s key – it isn't the original key but it can unlock the door just as effectively by fitting into the lock (receptor).
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:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (1)
- Which drug is likely to increase neural firing by acting as an agonist?
Resources
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