The phrase "law of excitation" is spelled according to the rules of English orthography. In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), it is transcribed as /lɔː əv ɛksɪˈteɪʃən/. The first syllable is pronounced as "law" with a long "o" sound, followed by "əv" which represents the schwa sound that connects the two words. "Excitation" is pronounced with a stress on the second syllable and is spelled as it sounds in English. The final syllable "-tion" is pronounced with a "shun" sound. Overall, the IPA transcription helps clarify the pronunciation of this phrase.
The law of excitation is a principle in psychology that pertains to the stimulation and activation of mental processes and behaviors. It is often used to explain the way in which arousal and emotional states influence human behavior and cognitive functioning.
According to this law, the level of excitation or arousal within an individual's system directly affects their cognitive and behavioral responses. The higher the level of arousal, the more likely an individual is to engage in actions and exhibit behaviors that are associated with that heightened state of arousal. On the other hand, low levels of excitation generally lead to reduced cognitive and behavioral responses.
This concept is closely related to the Yerkes-Dodson law, which suggests that performance levels improve with arousal, but only up to a certain point. Too little or too much excitation can impair performance and lead to suboptimal outcomes.
The law of excitation recognizes the importance of emotional and physiological states in shaping human behavior. It highlights the idea that emotional arousal can serve as a motivator for action, influencing individuals to engage in specific behaviors and cognitive processes. This principle is particularly applicable in fields such as sports psychology, where understanding the impact of arousal on performance is crucial for athletes and coaches. Overall, the law of excitation offers insights into how emotional states influence human behavior and cognition.
A motor nerve replies, by contraction of its muscle, not to the absolute value, but to the alteration of value from moment to moment, of the electric current.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.