stimulate

Stimulate is a verb meaning to raise levels of activity, alertness, or responsiveness in a person, animal, or system. It can refer to triggering a physical response, encouraging growth or development, or arousing interest or action. The related noun stimulus denotes something that provokes a response, while stimulation is the process of provoking such a response.

The word comes from Latin stimulare, meaning to goad or spur, and entered English in the late Middle Ages. In science and medicine, stimulation refers to methods that enhance physiological activity, such as electrical stimulation of nerves or deep brain stimulation, as well as to pharmacological stimulants that increase neural activity. In psychology and neuroscience, stimuli are signals that influence perception or behavior, and conditioning studies examine how different stimuli elicit responses. In economics and policy, fiscal or monetary stimulus describes measures intended to boost economic activity. In agriculture, growth may be stimulated by environmental factors or applied hormones. In everyday language, people commonly talk about stimulating conversation, imagination, or curiosity.