Emotional Excitants: Why Your Feelings Surge Without Warning
Scientifically Reviewed · Dr. Marwa Abd-Alazim · October 10, 2026
Review Criteria & Clinical Standards
This content undergoes rigorous scientific peer-review and medical editorial standards at Arab Psychology Network to ensure clinical accuracy, validity, and compliance with evidence-based guidelines from leading psychological and healthcare authorities (APA / WHO).
The Definition of Excitant
Excitant is a term used to describe an agent or stimulus that can cause excitement or arousal in an organism (Cummins, 2015). It is often used in the context of motivation and behavior to describe an agent that elicits an emotional response marked by increased arousal. This can include emotions such as pleasure, enthusiasm, and joy.
The Role of Excitant in Behavioral Science
Excitants play an important role in behavioral science. For instance, in behavioral psychology, excitants can be used to motivate an individual to perform a desired action (Gendron, 2015). Excitants can also be used to induce positive emotional states in an individual by eliciting pleasurable responses to rewards or stimuli (Dugas et al., 2019). This type of effect can be seen in the field of psychopharmacology, where certain drugs are used to induce euphoria and reward-seeking behaviors (Gendron, 2015).
The Role of Excitant in Neuroscience
In neuroscience, excitants can be used to study the neural basis of behavior. For example, excitants can be used to activate specific neural pathways or regions of the brain that are associated with certain behaviors or emotions (Dugas et al., 2019). This type of research allows for a better understanding of how the brain processes and responds to different stimuli.
Conclusion
Excitant is an important concept in the fields of behavioral science and neuroscience. It is used to describe an agent or stimulus that can cause excitement or arousal in an organism. In behavioral science, excitants can be used to motivate an individual to perform a desired action. In neuroscience, excitants can be used to activate specific neural pathways or regions of the brain associated with certain behaviors or emotions.
References
Cummins, D. D. (2015). Psychology and behavioral science. New York, NY: Routledge.
Dugas, E., Boucard, G., & Giros, B. (2019). The role of excitatory amino acid neurotransmission in reward and addiction. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 102, 35-63.
Gendron, M. (2015). The neuroscience of reward and motivation. Oxford, UK: Academic Press.
