You are hereResources / Glossary of Neuroscience Terms
Glossary of Neuroscience Terms
abdomen
the hindmost of an insect's three major body sections; the center for digestion and reproduction (M. sexta Wax Model)
abdominal
relating to or involving the abdomen (M. sexta Wax Model)
action potential
an electrical signal that travels along the axon, away from the cell body to the axon terminal where it triggers the release of neurotransmitters (Virtual Neurons, Connect the Neurons)
amygdala
part of the brain involved in processing the memory of emotional reactions, notably fear and anger (Sheep Brain Dissection)
anterior
toward the front or nose, see also rostral (Sheep Brain Dissection)
arachnoid mater
middle layer of the 3 membranes surrounding and protecting the brain. The space between the arachnoid and pia mater contains many blood vessels that supply the brain.
association cortex
parts of cortex putting together and interpreting sensory information (Motor Learning)
axon
the neuronal process that sends the signal or message away from the cell body toward target cells or neurons (Connect the Neurons, Close-up of the Nervous System, Bead Neuron)
axon terminal
the very end part of an axon that makes a synaptic contact with another cell; the point where neurotransmitters are released (Connect the Neurons, Close-up of the Nervous System)
brainstem
the part of the central nervous system connecting the brain to the spinal cord. The brainstem contains pathways sending information to and receiving information from the spinal cord and peripheral nerves. It also contains neurons that control respiration and regulation of heart rhythms. (Sheep Brain Dissection)
cell body
the bulbous part of the neuron, also called the soma, that contains the nucleus. Dendrites and axons are processes off of the cell body.
cerebellum
the highly folded part of the central nervous system above or dorsal to the brainstem that helps control movement, balance, and muscle coordination (Sheep Brain Dissection, Close-up of the Nervous System)
cerebral cortex
the largest and most complex part of the mammalian central nervous system; appears as tightly packed fat ridges (gyri) and narrow folds (sulci); responsible for all forms of conscious experience, including perception, emotion, thought, and planning. Cortex means bark in Greek; the bark of the cork tree looks a lot like the cerebral cortex. (Sheep Brain Dissection, Close-up of the Nervous System, Memory Items)
cerebral hemispheres
the two halves of the cerebral cortex. The left hemisphere is specialized for initiating speech, writing, language, and calculations. The right hemisphere is specialized for initiating spatial abilities, face recognition in vision, and some aspects of music perception and production
cerebrum
see cerebral cortex (Sheep Brain Dissection, Close-up of the Nervous System)
chemotaxis
when a growth cone follows chemical signals (chemo-) to move toward (-taxis) a desired target (Neuropathfinding, C. elegans + Alcohol, Chemotaxis using C. elegans)
corpus callosum
a large bundle of nerve fibers (myelinated axons) that link the right and left hemispheres of the brain; enables the two hemispheres to share information (Sheep Brain Dissection)
declarative memory
see memory, declarative (Your Incredible Memory)
dendrite
tree-like extension of the neuronal cell body; receives chemical neurotransmitter signals or messages from other neurons (Bead Neuron)
dorsal
toward the back (Sheep Brain Dissection)
dorsal horn
dorsal part of the spinal cord gray matter where axons from sensory neurons enter and make their first synapses (Close-up of the Nervous System)
dura mater
tough, leathery outermost layer of the membranes surrounding and protecting the brain; lines the inside of the skull and drapes loosely around the spinal cord. Dura mater is Latin for tough mother. (Sheep Brain Dissection)
episodic memory
see memory, episodic (Your Incredible Memory)
excitatory neuron
see neuron, excitatory (Virtual Neurons)
experimental control
the experimental condition which receives no treatments (negative control) or receives treatments already known to cause the desired effect (positive control) (Chemotaxis using C. elegans)
frontal lobe
front region of the cerebrum; concerned with intellectual functioning, including cognitive processes, behavior, planning, inhibition of instincts and drives, and declarative memory; motor cortex (Sheep Brain Dissection, Motor Learning)
ganglion (plural = ganglia)
a group or collection of neuronal cell bodies (Close-up of the Nervous System, M. sexta Wax Model)
growth cone
the tip of the growing axon that senses and uses chemical signals to find its targets (Neuropathfinding)
gyrus (plural = gyri)
ridges or bumps of folded cerebral cortex
hippocampus
the oldest part of cerebral cortex responsible for spatial localization, formation of declarative memory, and transfer of short-term to long-term memories (Sheep Brain Dissection Memory Items)
inertia
the tendency of a body to remain in a state of rest or uniform motion unless acted upon by an external force (Balance: The Ears Have It)
inhibitory neuron
see neuron, inhibitory (Virtual Neurons)
interneuron
a neuron that carries information between sensory neurons and motor neurons (Virtual Neurons)
lateral
toward the left or right sides, away from the middle; opposite of medial (Sheep Brain Dissection)
lobes
large divisions of the cerebral cortex
long-term memory
memories that are stored in a variety of places in the brain over long periods of time
medial
toward the middle; opposite of lateral (Sheep Brain Dissection)
membrane potential
electrical difference between the inside and outside of a neuron or muscle cell
memory, declarative
type of memory used when recalling (or declaring) facts or experiences, as opposed to skills. Both semantic and episodic memories are declarative memories and can easily be forgotten. (Your Incredible Memory)
memory, episodic
type of declarative memory used when one talks about events in one’s life (includes time, place and emotions) (Your Incredible Memory)
memory, procedural
type of memory used in performing skills, learned behaviors, or procedures; remembering how to do something like tie a shoelace. Procedural memories are easy to do but difficult to explain to others. For example, it is easy to demonstrate how to ride a bike but it is not easy to describe how to do it. Procedural memories are less likely to be forgotten. (Your Incredible Memory)
memory, semantic
type of declarative memory used when talking about facts and concepts (Your Incredible Memory)
meninges
three membranes (the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater) that cover and protect the brain and spinal cord against shocks, knocks, and vibrations; blood vessels run between the arachnoid and pia mater before entering into the cortex. (Sheep Brain Dissection)
metamorphosis
development or transformation of an organism; involves significant changes in physical form (e.g. growth and differentiation) (M. sexta Wax Model)
mnemonic
a device or way (a rhyme, a word) to aid in remembering something; HOMES to remember the 5 Great Lakes (Huron Ontario Michigan Erie Superior) (Memory Items)
motor cortex
see frontal lobe (Motor Learning)
motor learning
is the process of improving the smoothness and accuracy of movements through practice. During motor learning (and other learning), synapses in neural pathways in the brain are strengthened so that the actions (or thought) progress smoothly with less conscious direction.
motor neuron
see neuron, motor (Virtual Neurons)
myelin
compact fatty material that surrounds axons of some neurons; acts as an insulator to enhance electrical conduction of action potentials (Sheep Brain Dissection, Close-up of the Nervous System)
nervous system
a vast network of cells that carry information to and from all parts of the body (M. sexta Wax Model)
neural circuit
the set of neurons that are connected in sequence to produce a sensation, behavior, or function; neural pathway or network (Bead Neuron)
neural pathway
set of connected neurons that are regularly activated in sequence to produce a specific function; neural circuit or network
neuromuscular junction
a specialized synapse onto a muscle; the place where the neuron connects to the muscle (Virtual Neurons, Connect the Neurons)
neuron
a cell that is specialized for the transmission of information and characterized by long fibrous projections called axons, and shorter, branch-like projections called dendrites; the basic functional unit of the nervous system; also called a nerve cell (Virtual Neurons, Connect the Neurons, Close-up of the Nervous System, Bead Neuron)
neuron, excitatory
a neuron whose neurotransmitter excites, stimulates, or depolarizes (causes the cell membrane to become less negative) another neuron, increasing the probability that the target neuron will fire an action potential; in other words, an excitatory neuron sends a message that may cause another neuron to fire an action potential; excites the next neuron (Virtual Neurons, Connect the Neurons)
neuron, inhibitory
a neuron whose neurotransmitter inhibits or hyperpolarizes another neuron (causes the cell membrane to become more negative), decreasing the probability that the target neuron will fire an action potential; in other words, and inhibitory neuron sends a message that may prevent another neuron from firing an action potential; inhibits the next neuron (Virtual Neurons, Connect the Neurons)
neuron, motor
a neuron that carries information away from the central nervous system to muscles; a motor neuron sends messages to move muscles (Virtual Neurons)
neuron, post-synaptic
the neuron whose dendrites receive the neurotransmitter (Connect the Neurons)
neuron, pre-synaptic
the neuron that releases the neurotransmitter (Connect the Neurons)
neuron, sensory
a neuron that picks up information from the body's sensory receptors in the skin, tongue, ear, nose, and eyes and carries it toward the central nervous system; a sensory neuron detects environmental information necessary for the body to survive, eg. touch, pain, temperature, light, sound, taste, smell (Virtual Neurons)
neurotransmitter
at a synapse, a chemical released by nerve terminals that binds to receptors on dendrites of neighboring neurons; neurotransmitters relay information across the space between one neuron's nerve terminal and another neuron's dendrites. (Connect the Neurons)
nystagmus
an involuntary rhythmic eye movement that occurs when a person is spun around and then suddenly stops (Balance: The Ears Have It)
occipital lobe
the most caudal region of the cerebrum; receives sensory information from the eyes; visual cortex (Sheep Brain Dissection, Motor Learning)
olfactory bulb
anterior part of the brain concerned with the sense of smell (Sheep Brain Dissection)
optic chiasm
where the optic nerves from the left and right eyes come together. Some nerve fibers cross to the other side and some don't. All fibers continue in the optic track and synapse in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus. (Blind Spot)
optic nerve
nerve that connects the retina to the brain (Sheep Brain Dissection)
parietal lobe
region of the cerebrum located in the dorsal and medial region of the posterior cerebrum; processes higher sensory and language functions; association cortex (Sheep Brain Dissection, Motor Learning)
pathfinding
the process of the axons finding the right neuron or target to connect to (Neuropathfinding)
pia mater
innermost layer of the membranes surrounding and protecting the brain that closely follows the bumps and wrinkles of the brain’s surface. The space between the arachnoid and pia mater contains many blood vessels that supply the brain
pioneer axon
the axon that happens to find its connection first and blazes a trail for other like axons to follow (Neuropathfinding)
pituitary gland
gland at the base of the brain; makes and releases growth, reproductive, and other hormones into the blood stream (Sheep Brain Dissection)
post-synaptic neuron
see neuron, post-synaptic (Connect the Neurons)
pre-synaptic neuron
see neuron, pre-synaptic (Connect the Neurons)
primacy effect
remembering the first information given, see also recency effect (Recency & Primacy Effect)
procedural memory
see memory, procedural (Your Incredible Memory)
pruning
the process of shortening or reducing number of neuronal synapses, axons, or dendrites in response to use or growth signals (Neuropathfinding)
Purkinje cells
large neurons arranged in a single layer in the cerebellum that send messages to other areas of the brain that influence or refine movement (Close-up of the Nervous System)
reaction time
time it takes to react to a stimulus
recall
the act of retrieving memory (Your Incredible Memory)
recency effect
remembering the most recently received information, see also primacy effect (Recency & Primacy Effect)
receptor
a special molecule on a dendrite that tastes each specific neurotransmitter; neurotransmitter and receptor must fit together like a lock and key (Connect the Neurons)
recognition
the act of remembering words or situations that were previously learned or studied. It is also acknowledging and understanding something that is familiar. (Your Incredible Memory)
rostral
toward the front or nose, see also anterior (Sheep Brain Dissection)
semantic memory
see memory, semantic (Your Incredible Memory)
sensory neuron
see neuron, sensory (Virtual Neurons)
soma
see cell body
spinal cord
part of the central nervous system located inside the backbone containing cell bodies and bundles of nerve fibers; connects the brain to different sensory and motor parts of the body (Sheep Brain Dissection, Close-up of the Nervous System, Motor Learning)
sprouting
formation of new branches on axons or dendrites as they grow (Neuropathfinding)
sulcus (plural = sulci)
the valleys or spaces between the folds or gyri of the brain (Sheep Brain Dissection)
synapse
the gap between two neurons forming the site of information transfer, via neurotransmitters, from one neuron to another, including the presynaptic nerve terminal and the post-synaptic dendritic site; at synapses, neurotransmitters released from pre-synaptic axon terminals bind to receptors on post-synaptic dendrites (Connect the Neurons)
temporal lobe
ventral region of the lateral cerebrum located near the temples and ears; concerned with smell, taste, hearing, visual associations, some aspects of memory, and a person’s sense of self (Sheep Brain Dissection)
thoracic
relating to or involving the thorax (M. sexta Wax Model)
thorax
the middle section of an insect's body; the legs and wings attach to the thorax, making it the center for locomotion (M. sexta Wax Model)
threshold
the minimum amount of depolarization (becoming more positive) of cell membrane potential needed to cause an action potential to fire in a neuron (Virtual Neurons, Connect the Neurons)
ventral
toward the stomach, belly, or underside (Sheep Brain Dissection)
ventral horn
ventral part of spinal cord gray matter containing large motor neuron cell bodies (Close-up of the Nervous System)
ventricle
one of four fluid-filled cavities inside the brain
vestibular system
specialized sensory organs in the inner ear that sense head and body movements, the nerve that conveys this information into the brain, and the brain stem nuclei that process this information. The vestibular system is responsible for our sense of balance. (Balance: The Ears Have It)
visual cortex
see occipital lobe (Motor Learning)