refractory period

• Période suivant l'orgasme pendant laquelle une personne est physiquement incapable d'en éprouver un autre, ou terme général désignant la phase temporaire de récupération après une réponse physiologique.

A period of time after an orgasm during which a person is physically unable to experience another orgasm, or a general term for a temporary recovery phase after a physiological response.

1. Physiological recovery phaseC1formal

   A period after an action potential or nerve impulse during which a nerve or muscle cell is unable to respond to a second stimulus.

   période réfractaire

   • The refractory period prevents the heart from beating too rapidly.
   • During the absolute refractory period, no new action potential can be generated.
   • The length of the refractory period varies between different types of neurons.

2. Sexual recovery phaseB2formal

   The time after an orgasm during which a person is physically unable to achieve another orgasm.

   période réfractaire

   • The refractory period in males tends to increase with age.
   • Some individuals experience a very short or no refractory period.
   • The refractory period is a normal part of the human sexual response cycle.