beneceptor

English

Noun

beneceptor (plural beneceptors)

1. (anatomy) A sensory receptor that sends pleasurable or beneficial signals.

   Antonym: nociceptor

   Hypernym: ceptor

   • 1929, The Australasian Journal of Psychology and Philosophy, page 310:

     He divides receptors into three classes— "nociceptors", such as the nerve-endings for pain and hunger, "beneceptors", such as the nerve-endings stimulated when sugar melts on the tongue, and "neutroceptors", such as the nerve-endings in the eye and ear, called " neutroceptors " because they receive more or less indiscriminately both pleasant and unpleasant messages.

   • 1973, Behaviorism, page 42:

     The “beneceptors,” “nociceptors,” and "neutroceptors” generally signalled stimuli that were, respectively, beneficial, harmful, or neutral as regards the organism or its species.