automatism

automatism /au·tom·a·tism/ (aw-tom´ah-tizm) performance of nonreflex acts without conscious volition.

---

command automatism  abnormal responsiveness to commands, as in hypnosis.

---

au·tom·a·tism (ô-tm-tzm)

n.

1. The involuntary functioning of an organ or other body structure that is not under conscious control, such as the beating of the heart or the dilation of the pupil of the eye.

2. The reflexive action of a body part.

3. An act performed without intent or conscious exercise of the will, often without realization of its occurrence, as for certain types of epilepsy.

4. A condition in which one is consciously or unconsciously, but involuntarily, compelled to the performance of certain acts. Also called telergy.

---

automatism

[ôtom′ətiz′əm]

Etymology: Gk, automatismos, self-action

1 (in physiology) involuntary function of an organ system independent of apparent external stimuli, such as the beating of the heart, or dependent on external stimuli but not consciously controlled, such as the dilation of the pupil of the eye.

2 (in philosophy) the theory that the body acts as a machine and that the mind, whose processes depend solely on brain activity, is a noncontrolling adjunct of the body.

3 (in psychology) mechanical, repetitive, and undirected behavior that is not consciously controlled, as seen in psychomotor epilepsy, hysterical states, and such acts as sleepwalking. Kinds of automatism include ambulatory automatism, command automatism, and immediate posttraumatic automatism. Also called automatic behavior.

---

automatism [aw-tom´ah-tizm]

aimless and apparently undirected behavior that is not under conscious control and is performed without conscious knowledge; seen in psychomotor epilepsy, catatonic schizophrenia, dissociative fugue, and other conditions.

command automatism the performance of suggested acts without exercise of critical judgment; seen in catatonic schizophrenia and in the hypnotic state.

---

automatism (ôtom´tiz´m),

n a tendency to take extra or superfluous doses of a drug when under its influence.

---

automatism

mechanical, often repetitive motor behavior performed without conscious control.

---

automatism

Monophasia, recurring utterances, verbal stereotypy Neurology A form of motor aphasia, characterized by stereotyped utterances repeatedly repeated, as if by compulsion; an involuntary compulsion to perform a motor act Associations Psychomotor epilepsy, catatonic schizophrenia, psychogenic fugue, complex partial seizure, post-traumatic automatism, etc. See Aphasia, Motor aphasia Psychiatry Automatic and apparently undirected nonpurposeful behavior that is not consciously controlled. See Automatic behavior.

---

Patient discussion about automatism.

Q. My friend told me that following a vegetarian diet will help to lose weight automatically? Is that so? My friend told me that following a vegetarian diet will help to lose weight automatically? Is that so?

A. No necessarily. Your body will be in shock for a bit from the switch over. I think eating natural and unprocessed foods cause the major decline in weight since its all natural.