PsychologyAugust 7, 2026

pulsatility

pul-suh-TIL-uh-tee

Definition

The state or quality of rhythmic throbbing, expansion, or contraction, often referring to the movement of blood vessels or brain tissue.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'pulsare' meaning 'to beat' or 'to pulse.' It entered English as a noun denoting the rhythmic characteristic of a beat or vibration.

In the news

The term appears in a related article headline describing how 3D MRI scans can measure age-related changes in the rhythmic movement of brain tissue. It is significant because tracking these pulses helps researchers identify natural declines in brain function as people age.

MRI-based models may predict atypical brain development in children

Read the full article ↗

AuntMinnie

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