Automatism: Automatic, mechanical, and apparently undirected behavior which is outside of conscious control.

NIH MeSH · D001332Psychiatry and Psychology

Automatism

Definition

Automatic, mechanical, and apparently undirected behavior which is outside of conscious control.

MeSH classification

  • F02.463.425.179.149

Need clinical context, treatments, or patient-language explanation?

Ask GoDavaii AI about Automatism

Related concepts

Avoidance Learning

A response to a cue that is instrumental in avoiding a noxious experience.

Conditioning, Classical

Learning that takes place when a conditioned stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioning, Eyelid

Reflex closure of the eyelid occurring as a result of classical conditioning.

Conditioning, Operant

Learning situations in which the sequence responses of the subject are instrumental in producing reinforcement. When the correct response oc…

Conditioning, Psychological

Simple form of learning involving the formation, strengthening, or weakening of an association between a stimulus and a response.

Common questions about Automatism

What does Automatism mean in medicine?
Automatic, mechanical, and apparently undirected behavior which is outside of conscious control. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Automatism known by any other names?
Automatism is the canonical name in the MeSH vocabulary. There are no commonly used alternate names for this concept in the official NIH database.
Where does Automatism sit in the medical classification?
Automatism falls under the broader medical category "Psychiatry and Psychology" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: F02.463.425.179.149). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Automatism?
For a plain-language explanation of Automatism - including symptoms, treatments and what it means for an Indian patient - ask GoDavaii's Health AI. It works in 22+ Indian languages, is free and needs no signup. Tap "Ask GoDavaii AI about Automatism" above.

Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D001332) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗