AROUSAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does arousal mean? 

• AROUSAL (noun)
  The noun AROUSAL has 4 senses:

1. the act of arousing

2. a state of heightened physiological activity

3. awakening from sleep

4. mutual sexual fondling prior to sexual intercourse

  Familiarity information: AROUSAL used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• AROUSAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of arousing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

arousal; rousing

Context example:

the purpose of art is the arousal of emotions

Hypernyms ("arousal" is a kind of...):

change of state (the act of changing something into something different in essential characteristics)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "arousal"):

awakening; wakening; waking up (the act of waking)

excitation; excitement (something that agitates and arouses)

incitation; incitement (an act of urging on or spurring on or rousing to action or instigating)

inflaming; inflammation (arousal to violent emotion)

inspiration; stirring (arousing to a particular emotion or action)

stimulation (the act of arousing an organism to action)

titillation (an agreeable arousal)

Derivation:

arouse (call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses))

Sense 2

Meaning:

A state of heightened physiological activity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("arousal" is a kind of...):

physical condition; physiological condition; physiological state (the condition or state of the body or bodily functions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "arousal"):

alerting; alertness (a state of readiness to respond)

emotional arousal (the arousal of strong emotions and emotional behavior)

excitation; innervation; irritation (the neural or electrical arousal of an organ or muscle or gland)

sexual arousal (the arousal of sexual desires in preparation for sexual behavior)

desire (something that is desired)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Awakening from sleep

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Hypernyms ("arousal" is a kind of...):

wakefulness (a periodic state during which you are conscious and aware of the world)

Derivation:

arouse (stop sleeping)

arouse (cause to become awake or conscious)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Mutual sexual fondling prior to sexual intercourse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

arousal; foreplay; stimulation

Hypernyms ("arousal" is a kind of...):

sex; sex activity; sexual activity; sexual practice (activities associated with sexual intercourse)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "arousal"):

caressing; cuddling; fondling; hugging; kissing; necking; petting; smooching; snuggling (affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs))

feel (manual stimulation of the genital area for sexual pleasure)

 Context examples 

Although the effects of barbiturates are seen throughout the CNS, the predominant effect occurs in the midbrain region, the part of the brain associated with arousal.

(Barbiturate, NCI Thesaurus)

By modulating binding of the GABA inhibitory neurotransmitter to GABA-A receptors in the ascending reticular activating system, flurazepam blocks arousal of the cortical and limbic system, thereby exerting its sedative and hypnotic effect.

(Flurazepam, NCI Thesaurus)

Methylphenidate appears to activate the brain stem arousal system and cortex to produce its stimulant effect and, in some clinical settings, may improve cognitive function.

(Methylphenidate, NCI Thesaurus)

This results in compensatory arousal from sleep to breathe again.

(Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

It also provides an important insight into the pathophysiology of insomnia and the role of orexin in arousal regulation, which will hopefully lead to the first step to develop remedies for sleep disorders.

(The Secret Connection between Anxiety, Sleep, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Measures of nervous system arousal confirmed that the participants experienced a fear response.

(How Our Memory Works, NIH, US)

Orexin, a hormone produced in a circuit emanating from the brain's hypothalamus, regulates arousal, wakefulness and reward.

(The Mechanism of Panic Attacks, NIH, US)

When animals are present, children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have lower readings on a device that detects anxiety and other forms of social arousal when interacting with their peers.

(Animals’ presence may ease social anxiety in kids with autism, NIH)

Frequent partial arousals occur throughout sleep, resulting in relative SLEEP DEPRIVATION and daytime tiredness.

(Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

In the new study, researchers looked at the extended amygdala, a brain region involved in fear, arousal, and emotional processing and which plays a significant role in drug and alcohol addiction.

(Researchers identify key brain circuits for reward-seeking and avoidance behavior, National Institutes of Health)