scotophobin Hear it!

scotophobin definition

☆ sco·to·pho·bin (skōt′ə fō′bin)

noun

a peptide produced in the brain of laboratory rats conditioned to have a fear of darkness: it is claimed that such a fear may be transferred to unconditioned rats by injection of the peptide, thus providing evidence for the theory that memory has a chemical basis

Etymology: < Gr skotos, darkness (see shade) + phobos, a fear + -in

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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