Glossary of NeuroscienceWords

Abducens nerve
Cranial nerve VI - innervates the lateral rectus muscle of the eye. Itis the only cranial nerve that originates from the dorsal surface of thebrainstem.

Ablation
Removal or destruction of tissue.

Acetylcholine (ACh)
A neurotransmitter found in the brain, spinal cord, neuromuscularjunction and autonomic nervous system.

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
Enzyme that terminates the action of acetylcholine.

Action Potential
Electrical "all-or-none" impulse that transmits information within thenervous system.

Adrenergic
Associated with catecholamines.

Afferent
Neural information flowing from the periphery to more centralareas of the nervous system.

Alzheimer's disease
A degenerative brain disease. Characterized by memory loss anddisorientation.

Amnesia
Partial or complete loss of memory. "Anterograde" amnesia is whenpeople cannot form new memories.

Amphetamine
A synthetic central nervous system stimulant.

Amplitude
The size or magnitude of a signal or response.

Amygdala
Brain structure that is part of the limbic system. Implicated inemotion.

Analgesia
Insensitivity to pain.

Anterior
A directional term meaning toward the front.

Anterior Commissure
A small fiber tract that connects the right and left cerebralhemispheres (like the corpus callosum).

Aphasia
Inability to speak or understand language.

Aqueous humor
Fluid in the space between the cornea and lens of the eye.

Arachnoid
Middle layer of the meninges.

Astrocyte (astroglia)
A glialcell that supports neurons.

Autoradiography
Neuroanatomical method using radioactivity that is incorporated intoneurons.

Axon
The part of the neuron that takes information AWAY from the cellbody.

Axodendritic (synapse)
A synapse formed by contact between a presynaptic axon and apostsynaptic dendrite.

Basal Ganglia
Areas of the brain that are important from movement. These areasinclude the putamen, caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleusand substantia nigra.

Bipolar neuron
Neuron with only two processes extending from the cell body.

Blood Brain Barrier
A system of astrocytes and capillaries in the brain that prevents thepassage of specific substances.

Brainstem
The central core of the brain.

Cauda equina
The "horse's tail" made up of a bundle of spinal nerves at the base ofthe spinal cord.

Caudal
A directional term meaning toward the tail end.

Cell Body
Also called the soma; the part of the cell that contains thenucleus.

Central Nervous System
The brain and spinal cord.

Central Sulcus
Large groove in the brain that separates the frontal and parietallobes.

Cerebellum
Area of the brain above the pons and medulla that is important forbalance and posture.

Cerebral Aqueduct
Part of the ventricular system that connects the third and fourthventricles.

Cerebral Cortex
Outermost layer (the gray matter) of the cerebral hemisphere.

Cerebrospinal Fluid(CSF)
Clear fluid in the ventricular system.

Chimeric Figure
Figure using two separate faces on each half. These figures are usedin split brain experiments.

Choroid Plexus
Vascular structures in the ventricular system that producecerebrospinal fluid.

Cingulate Cortex
Part of the limbic system. Located directly above the corpuscallosum. Important for emotional behavior.

Circadian
About one day; used to describe some body rhythms.

Cochlea
Inner ear structure important for hearing.

Cone
Receptor found in the retina important for color vision anddetailed sight.

Cornea
Transparent front coat of the eye.

Corpus Callosum
Large collection of axons that connect the left and right hemispheresof the brain.

Cranial Nerves
12 pairs of nerves that exit from the brain.

Cranium
The part of the skull that contains the brain.

Dendrite
Extensions from the neuron cell body that take information TOthe cell body.

Depolarization
Movement of the membrane potential toward 0 mV; a decrease inpolarization.

Dopamine
A neurotransmitter found in many areas of the brain. Important formovement and other behavior.

Dorsal Root
Bundle of nerve fibers taking information into the spinal cord.

Dura
Outermost layer of the meninges.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Record of electrical activity of the brain obtained from scalpelectrodes.

Endorphin
Neurotransmitter with similar properties as opiates. Important forpain reduction.

Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential (EPSP)
A graded depolarization of the postsynaptic cell.

Fornix
Pathway that connects the hippocampus to the mamillary bodies.

Fovea
Central part of retina; area of retina with most accurate vision.

Glia
Non-neural support cells of the nervous system.

Gyrus (plural is gyri)
"Hills" or "bumps" on the brain that are separated by fissures.

Hippocampus
Area of the limbic system important for memory.

Hormones
Chemicals used by endocrine system to transmit messages.

Hypothalamus
Brain structure that monitors internal environment and attempts tomaintain balance of these systems. Controls the pituitary.

Inferior Colliculus
Midbrain structure important for hearing.

Iris
Muscles of eye that control the size of the pupil. Gives color tothe eye.

Lens
Transparent structure in the eye that focuses light on the retina.

Lesion
Injury caused by destruction of tissue.

Limbic System (or Limbic Areas)
Interconnected areas of the brain important for emotional and otherbehaviors.

Medulla
Part of the brain stem important for breathing, respiration and otherbehaviors.

Meninges
Series of 3 membranes (dura mater, arachnoid, pia mater) that coverthe brain and spinal cord.

Myelin Sheath
Fatty substance that surrounds some axons.

Neurotransmitters
Chemicals that transmit information across the synapse to communicatefrom one neuron to another.

Occipital Lobe
Area of the brain located behind the parietal lobe and temporal lobeand responsible for vision.

Optic Chiasm
Crossing of the fibers from each retina.

Ossicles
Bones in the middle ear.

Pia
Inner most layer of the meninges. Adjacent to the surface of the brain.

Pituitary
"Master" gland attached to the base of the brain that secreteshormones.

Pons
Area of the brainstem between the medulla and the midbrain.

Retina
Innermost layer of the eye; contains receptors responsive to light.

Rod
Receptor found in the retina important for in low lightconditions.

Soma
The neuron cell body. Contains the nucleus.

Sulcus (plural is sulci)
Groove located on the surface of the brain.

Synapse
Functional connection between a terminal of one neuron with a membraneof anotherneuron.

Tectum
"Roof" of the midbrain.

Tegmentum
"Floor" of the midbrain.

Thalamus
Group of nuclei in the diencephalon of the brain. The differentnuclei have sensory and motor functions.

Ventricle
Hollow spaces with the brain that are filled with cerebrospinalfluid.

If you did not find the word you were looking for, try theseglossaries:

  1. Dictionaryof Biopsychology
  2. Glossary -Alzheimer's Disease
  3. Glossary -Behavioral Neurology
  4. Glossary - BrainInjury
  5. Glossary - BrainInjury Terms
  6. Glossary -BrainSurf
  7. Glossary -Brain Tumor and Injury
  8. Glossary- Cyberlore Jargon Index
  9. Glossary - Jane's BrainPage
  10. Glossary -Brain Surgery Terms
  11. Glossary - Mind andMachine
  12. Glossary- Neurobiology
  13. Glossary- Neuroanatomy Review
  14. Glossary -Neuroscience Terms
  15. Glossary- Pain Terms
  16. Glossary- Parkinson's Disease
  17. Glossary- Pharmacology Terms
  18. Glossary -Psychiatry
  19. Glossary -Psychology Terms
  20. Glossary -Society for Neuroscience
  21. Glossary - The Senses
  22. Glossary -Vestibular Terms - I
  23. Glossary -Vestibular Terms - II
  24. Glossary- Vision Terms
  25. Glossary- "Visionary": terminology in vision research
  26. Glossary- Neuro Vocabulary Guide
  27. Glossary - W.Calvin's The Cerebral Code
  28. NeuroscienceVocabulary
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