relaxation response

response /re·sponse/ (re-spons´) any action or change of condition evoked by a stimulus.respon´sive

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acute phase response  a group of physiological processes occurring soon after the onset of infection, trauma, inflammatory processes, and some malignant conditions; it includes increase in acute phase proteins in serum, fever, increased vascular permeability, and metabolic and pathologic changes.

anamnestic response  secondary immune r.

autoimmune response  the immune response against an autoantigen.

conditioned response  a response evoked by a conditioned stimulus; a response to a stimulus that was incapable of evoking it before conditioning.

galvanic skin response  the alteration in the electrical resistance of the skin associated with sympathetic nerve discharge.

immune response  any response of the immune system to an antigenic stimulus, including antibody production, cell-mediated immunity, and immunological tolerance.

primary immune response  the immune response occurring on the first exposure to an antigen, with specific antibodies appearing in the blood after a multiple day latent period.

relaxation response  a group of physiologic changes that cause decreased activity of the sympathetic nervous system and consequent relaxation after stimulation of certain regions of the hypothalamus. They may be self-induced through techniques such as meditation and biofeedback.

secondary immune response  the immune response occurring on second and subsequent exposures to an antigen, with a stronger response to a lesser amount of antigen, and a shorter lag time compared to the primary immune response.

triple response (of Lewis)  a triphasic skin reaction to being stroked with a blunt instrument: first a red line develops at the site due to histamine release, then a flare develops around the red line, and lastly a wheal is formed as a result of local edema.

unconditioned response  an unlearned response, i.e., one that occurs naturally to an unconditioned stimulus.

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relaxation response,

a protective mechanism against stress that brings about decreased heart rate, lower metabolism, and decreased respiratory rate. It is the physiologic opposite of the "fight or flight," or stress, response.

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relaxation response,

n the physiologic counterbalance to the fight-or-flight response, in which a deep state of mental and physiological rest may be elicited.