The visual aspects of a word, such as horizontal and vertical lines or curves, are suspected to activate word-recognizing receptors.
An 'agonist' activates specific neural receptors, causing them to change biochemistry.
Some substances activate cold trigeminal receptors even when not at low temperatures.
Like many other biologically active substances, dopamine exerts its effects by binding to and activating receptors located on the surface of cells.
Norepinephrine performs its actions on the target cell by binding to and activating adrenergic receptors.
Hair cells of the cristae activate afferent receptors in response to rotational acceleration.
Hair cells of the maculae activate afferent receptors in response to linear acceleration.
Capsaicin feels hot in the mouth because it activates sensory receptors on the tongue otherwise used to detect thermal heat.
Both are direct-acting cholinomimetics; they produce their effects by binding to and activating cholinergic receptors.
The adrenaline and noradrenaline appear to activate receptors on the vagus nerve running into the brain.