Agonist:
- one that is engaged in a struggle
- [from antagonist]
- a muscle that is controlled by the action of an antagonist with which it is paired
- a chemical substance capable of combining with a specific receptor on a cell and initiating the same reaction or activity typically produced by the binding endogenous substance
dopaminergic agonists [Merriam-Webster]
Noted in “Great apes like teasing each other – which may be the origin of humour,” Chen Ly, NewScientist (14 February 2024, paywall):
Previous studies have found that chimpanzees may engage in agonistic teasing, or harassment, to reinforce their hierarchical positions. But when the right balance of enjoyment and aggression is struck, teasing can also be a form of play and amusement, says Isabelle Laumer at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany.
