overstimulation

[ oh-ver-stim-yuh-ley-shuhn ]

noun

1. an act or instance of excessively stimulating something, particularly when the result is undesirable:

   Overstimulation of the economy gave us record job openings, an indication of the demand that can’t be met by the available workforce.

2. Physiology, Medicine/Medical. sensory overload ( def ):

   A big, extravagant party may seem like a kid-pleaser, but for many children it’s overstimulation, which can evoke anxiety, withdrawal, anger, etc.

3. Biology, Physiology. especially of a gland or nerve, the act of being or becoming overactive and producing an abnormal increase in whatever substance or effect would otherwise be a normal function:

   Too much thyroid hormone in the body occurs from overstimulation of the thyroid gland, but that can be regulated with medication.

   The blood vessels in the lower extremities have dilated, suggesting overstimulation of the vagus nerve.

Word History and Origins

Origin of overstimulation¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; over- ( def ) + stimulation ( def )

Example Sentences

To understand the little creatures' gliding capabilities, Dececchi’s team scanned a fossilized Yi specimen using a technique called laser-stimulated fluorescence.

From Popular-Science

These cells contain genes called luciferasesthat instruct the creatures to start a chemical reaction that stimulates a molecule called luciferin.

From Popular-Science

To assess the dinos’ flight capability, Dececchi and colleagues used laser-stimulated fluorescence imaging, which can pick up details of soft tissues such as membranes or cartilage in fossils, to reanalyze the anatomy of Yi and Ambopteryx.

From Science News

Lawmakers created a new pot of money, setting aside $90 million in 2016 to create new job opportunities and stimulate the economies of Kentucky, Pennsylvania and West Virginia by developing reclaimed mine sites.

From ProPublica

Licking around the mouth seems to be the cue that stimulates her to vomit up some nicely partially digested meat.

From Freakonomics

At events they do attend, parents must remain ever vigilant for possible overstimulation and overreaction.

From The Daily Beast

Without having a tinge of cruelty in his singular composition, he was undoubtedly callous from long overstimulation.

From Project Gutenberg

Dr. Anstie therefore recommends that the word "overstimulation" be disused, as unphilosophical and self-contradictory.

From Project Gutenberg

Such overstimulation must necessarily in some cases have an injurious influence on the boy's immature nervous system.

From Project Gutenberg

His mother has taken the only sensible course; she has encouraged him without subjecting him to overstimulation.

From Project Gutenberg