Anticholinesterase refers to an agent that inhibits action of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). AChE is an enzyme that inactivates acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter at the junctions of nerve and muscle cells (neuromuscular junctions) that regulates the delivery of messages from neurons to muscle fibers. By inhibiting the activity of AChE, such medications allow high levels of acetylcholine to accumulate, potentially enabling repeated stimulation of nerves at neuromuscular junctions.
Lexicon of Psychology - Terms, Treatments, Biographies,