Sensitization phenomena are observed in biology, medicine, psychology, chemistry and physics, as well as several other areas of science. Moreover, the term means completely different things. What is it about?
Biology and medicine
As a rule, this term is used by allergists. In this area, sensitization is an increase in the body's sensitivity to any external or internal stimuli. It is the first stage of allergic reactions in response to contact with certain substances. At the same time, special antibodies are produced in the body, lymph nodes, the number of lymphocytes increase, and changes in the functioning of the nervous system are also observed. Thus, sensitization is, in fact, the formation of an allergic reaction. The next time, contact with the stimulus may turn into already full-fledged problems.
There is also such a thing as rhesus sensitization. This is the same phenomenon, but of a specific nature. Pregnant women with a
negative Rhesus factor may encounter it
. In this case, proteins in the blood of the fetus act as an irritant.
In addition, this term, along with the concept of "adaptation" is also used to describe the work of the senses. Receptors can be trained by developing their sensitivity. For example, tasters, perfumers are engaged in the development of taste and smell. You can also train your vision or hearing by increasing your overall susceptibility or response to certain stimuli. If, for some reason, receptors of one type do not work, compensation mechanisms are activated, and the sensitivity of other organs increases. Thus, sensitization is a mechanism that allows the body to adapt to new conditions, as well as signal the presence of a strong irritant.
In psychology
Not only biologists and doctors use this term. Psychologists also use this concept in their work, understanding by it phenomena of the same type, but at a different level. Usually it is all about desensitization, that is, mitigation of anxiety reactions in response to stimuli. The term is primarily used in the context of getting rid of phobias.
Another area of application is a painful addiction to various substances. In this context, sensitization is a more violent reaction of the body in response to a repeated dose equal to the first. Here, psychology already closely borders on neurobiology, since, according to research, this phenomenon arises as a result of changes in the so-called center of pleasure. The concept of addiction is widely known when ever higher doses are required to obtain the same effect. In this context, sensitization will be just the antonym.
Examples of the use of the term in other scientific fields
This concept is also used in physics and, for example, in photochemistry. In the first case, sensitization refers to the transfer of energy from one molecule to another. In the second, they talk about increasing the sensitivity of photographic material, moreover, they distinguish spectral sensitization, with the help of which a reaction is achieved only to light with a certain wavelength.