potentiation
Strengthening through combination
Potentiation is the enhancement or strengthening of an effect, especially in pharmacology and neuroscience.
When one drug potentiates another, it amplifies that drug's action: Grapefruit juice can potentiate certain medications.
In neuroscience, long-term potentiation describes how repeated stimulation strengthens synaptic connections—a mechanism underlying learning and memory.
Upward push or increase
- enhancementIncrease in quality
- intensificationIncrease in degree
- magnificationDegree of visual enlargement
- augmentationAct of adding more
escalation · multiplication · strengthening · reinforcement · elevation · increase · surge · heightening
Active chemical compound
- synergyCombined effect exceeding components
- interactionReciprocal action between parties
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
- bioavailabilityFraction reaching active circulation
metabolism · receptor · agonist · efficacy · dosage · sensitization · contraindication · antagonist
Nerve signal crossing point
- plasticityAbility to change shape
- receptorSignal-receiving molecule
- glutamateExcitatory neural transmitter
- neurotransmissionNerve cell chemical communication
presynaptic · dendrite · calcium · phosphorylation · kinase · memory · consolidation · hippocampus
boost
Upward push or increase
- enhancementIncrease in quality
- intensificationIncrease in degree
- magnificationDegree of visual enlargement
augmentation · escalation · multiplication · strengthening · reinforcement · elevation · increase · surge · heightening · amplifying
drug
Active chemical compound
- synergyCombined effect exceeding components
- interactionReciprocal action between parties
- toleranceWillingness to accept difference
bioavailability · metabolism · receptor · agonist · efficacy · dosage · sensitization · contraindication · antagonist · half-life
synapse
Nerve signal crossing point
- plasticityAbility to change shape
- receptorSignal-receiving molecule
- glutamateExcitatory neural transmitter
neurotransmission · presynaptic · dendrite · calcium · phosphorylation · kinase · memory · consolidation · hippocampus · axon
muscle
Contractile body tissue
- contractionReduction in size
- twitchInvoluntary muscular jerk
- tetanusMuscle-stiffening bacterial disease
fatigue · force · calcium · fiber · stimulus · tension · recruitment · strength · staircase · activation
potentiationinhibition
Mental check on behavior
attenuation · diminution · suppression · weakening · reduction
potentiationantagonism
Active opposition or hostility
inhibition · interference · counteraction · opposition · neutralization
potentiationdepression
Prolonged low state
desensitization · downregulation · habituation · tolerance · deactivation