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Glite Dictionary
🔽 Reducing cell activity 😌 Lowering a response
downregulation

downregulation

7.5
A way of reducing strong emotional or physical reactions to feel calmer
  • noun
  • /ˌdaʊnˌrɛɡjʊˈleɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : downregulación
  • The downregulation of stress hormones is crucial for recovery.

Examples

  • The body's downregulation of stress hormones can lead to improved mental health.

  • She studied the downregulation of certain genes in her research.

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy can help with the downregulation of anxiety in stressful situations.

  • Scientists studied the downregulation of certain genes in response to medication.

  • Effective downregulation of anger is important for maintaining healthy relationships.

  • Researchers studied the downregulation of certain genes during the healing process.

  • Effective therapy often involves the downregulation of overactive immune responses.

Synonyms

inhibition
vsdownregulation
29 6.1

Holding back your feelings or actions around other people

acts to lower automatic response levels rather than only intentional restraint
suppression
vsdownregulation
  • Specialized
6 6.3

Keeping unwanted thoughts or feelings out of your mind deliberately

aims to reduce response or activity levels, not only conscious exclusion
moderation
vsdownregulation
5 3.7

Making something less strong or intense

targets specific emotional or physiological response reduction rather than broad easing
damping
vsdownregulation
1 5.3

A drop in strength or level of something, like noise and excitement

reduces response levels in bodily or behavioural systems rather than only intensity
desensitizing
vsdownregulation
6.8

Making a person feel less pain or fear

reduces the overall response magnitude across physiological or behavioral systems

Antonyms

upregulation
  • Specialized
1 7.9

An increase in the amount or activity of something, often in cells

How Reduced

shutdown
136 4.1
suppression
  • Specialized
6 6.3
downregulation
  • Specialized
7.5
reduction
451 3.2
decrease
84 2.2

Surface Forms

downregulation singular
downregulations plural

Morphology

downregulation = downregulate (transparent) = down + regulate + ion

Formed by nominalizing the verb 'downregulate' with a regular suffix, so the sense 'process of reducing' follows directly from the parts.

Etymology

Downregulation comes from down ('lower') and regulate ('control' or 'rule'), as in regular. So it means reducing or calming a response or activity, for example lowering anxiety, anger, or other body reactions.