A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Agonist
Molecule that binds to a cellular receptor (such as a neuroreceptor), activating a biological response.1
Amyloid-β
Peptide that makes up the amyloid plaques which develop in Alzheimer’s disease.2
Amygdala
Cluster of nuclei in the limbic system thought to help regulate emotions and behavior. Popularly (and reductively) thought of as the “fear center” of the brain.3,4
Antagonist
Molecule that binds to a cellular receptor (such as a neuroreceptor), blocking a biological response.1
Astrocytes
Star-shaped glial cells that fulfill a variety of roles in the nervous system. Many astrocytes interface with brain capillaries, helping to form the blood-brain barrier.5
Axon
Portion of a neuron that transmits signals such as the nerve impulse to other cells.6
B
Brain stem
Structure comprised of the diencephalon, mesencephalon, pons and medulla that connects the cerebrum to the cerebellum. Involved in many basic processes such as sleeping, breathing, and heartbeat.7
Blood-brain barrier
System of endothelial tissue that selectively allows circulating solutes to enter the brain.
C
Cerebellum
Structure in the hindbrain involved with motor control and balance.8
Cognition
The capacity for thinking; aspects of cognition include decision making, learning, and comprehension.
Cortex
The outer layer of the cerebrum, consisting of the frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes.9
Cortisol
A hormone released by the adrenal gland with many functions, particularly related to the body’s stress response.10
D
Default mode network
Group of brain structures believed to coordinate resting state brain activity while awake.11
Dendrite
Projections from the cell body of a neuron that receive signals from surrounding cells.12
E
Electroencephalogram (EEG)
Test in which electrodes are attached to the scalp to measure electrical activity in the brain.13
F
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
Noninvasive imaging technique that quantifies blood flow throughout the brain as an indicator of regional activation.14
G
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
Neurotransmitter with inhibitory functions in the brain and spinal cord.15
Glia
Cells in the nervous system other than neurons, including astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes.
H
Hormone
Chemicals that facilitate communication between one tissue and another.16
Hippocampus
Brain structure with functions related to learning and memory located in the temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex.17
Hypothalamus
Brain structure that maintains bodily homeostasis by signalling to the endocrine system in response to inputs from the nervous system.18
L
Limbic system
Structures located around the thalamus between the cerebral cortex and the brain stem that play a role in emotional processing, motivation, and memory.19
M
Medulla oblongata
Also known simply as the medulla, a structure in the brain stem that connects it to the spinal cord.20
Microglia
Glial cells that serve as the resident immune cells of the central nervous system.21
Midbrain
Uppermost portion of the brain stem.22
Myelin
A fatty coating surrounding and protecting axons that speeds neuronal transmission.23
N
Neurite
Protrusions from the cell body of a neuron, namely, axons and dendrites.24
Neuron
Cell that transmits signals throughout the nervous system. Neurons are comprised of a cell body (the soma) as well as an axon that sends messages to other cells and dendrites that receive messages from other cells.
Neuroreceptor
Protein on a cell membrane that reacts to a neurotransmitter.25
Neurotransmitter
Signaling compound released by a neuron.26
Nucleotide
Building blocks of nucleic acids, which include DNA and RNA. Nucleotides are comprised of a sugar (either ribose or deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and a base. In DNA, the bases are adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine. In RNA, the bases are adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil.27
O
Oligodendrocytes
Glial cells that myelinate and support axons.28
P
Peptide
Chains of amino acids that serve as the building blocks of proteins.29
Periaqueductal gray area
Region of the midbrain thought to regulate pain response and defensive behaviors.30
Polysomnography
Process by which physiological data – including electroencephalogram, electromyogram, electrocardiogram, electro-oculogram, and pulse-oximetry data- is collected during sleep.31
R
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
Single-stranded nucleic acid used to transmit information about gene expression encoded in DNA to the rest of the cell.32
S
Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)
Mutation involving a single base pair of nucleotides that occurs in at least 1% of the population.33
Synapse
Where one neuron delivers signals to another.34 The neuron sending signals is known as the presynaptic cell while the neuron receiving the messages is the postsysnaptic cell. In an electrical synapse, neurons are in direct contact and the the signal transmitted is electrical (ie ions).
In a chemical synapse, there is a space called a synaptic cleft between neurons. Chemical signals cross across this cleft from one neuron to the other.
T
Thalamus
A gray matter structure in the center of the brain that receives inputs for all senses (except olfaction) and sends signal to their respective region of the cortex.35
Transcription
The process by which DNA (an organism’s genetic code) is copied into RNA, which the cell uses as instructions for protein synthesis.36
Transcriptome
All of the RNA transcribed from DNA within a given cell. Transcribing different DNA fragments into RNA at a given time allows cells to express different proteins.37
V
Vasopressin
Hormone produced in the hypothalamus with roles in regulating the body’s salt and water balance, blood pressure, and kidney function.38
References
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- Wright, A. Chapter 6: Neuroscience: Amygdala. Neuroscience Online. Updated October 10, 2020. Accessed March 19, 2023. https://nba.uth.tmc.edu/neuroscience/s4/chapter06.html. ↩︎
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- Astrocytes (Adapted from: Kettenmann H.; Verkhratsky A. (2011) Neuroglia – Living Nerve Glue. Fortschritte der Neurologie und Psychiatrie 79: 588-597). Network Glia. Accessed March 19, 2023. https://www.networkglia.eu/en/astrocytes. ↩︎
- Rockland, K.S. Axon. In: Ramachandran, V. S., ed. Encyclopedia of the Human Brain. Academic Press; 2002:349-365. Accessed March 19, 2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B0122272102000510. ↩︎
- Fernandez-Gil, M.A., Palacios-Bote, R., Leo-Barahona, M., Mora-Encinas, M.P. Anatomy of the brainstem: a gaze into the stem of life. Semin Ultrasound CT MR. 2010;31(3):196-219. doi: 10.1053/j.sult.2010.03.006. ↩︎
- Jimsheleishvili, S. and Dididze, M. Neuroanatomy, Cerebellum. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing: 2022. Accessed March 19, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538167/?report=classic. ↩︎
- Jawabri, K.H. and Sharma, S. Physiology, Cerebral Cortex Functions. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing: 2022. Accessed March 19, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538496/. ↩︎
- Cortisol. Cleveland Clinic. Updated December 10, 2023. Accessed May 14, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22187-cortisol. ↩︎
- Know Your Brain: Default Mode Network. Neuroscientificially Challenged. Accessed July 17, 2023. https://neuroscientificallychallenged.com/posts/know-your-brain-default-mode-network. ↩︎
- Trafton, A. Electrical properties of dendrites help explain our brain’s unique computing power. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. October 18, 2018. Accessed May 23, 2023. https://news.mit.edu/2018/dendrites-explain-brains-computing-power-1018. ↩︎
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- What is fMRI? UC San Diego Center for Functional MRI. Accessed July 16, 2023. http://fmri.ucsd.edu/Research/whatisfmri.html. ↩︎
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- Hypothalamus. Cleveland Clinic. Updated March 16, 2022. Accessed May 21, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22566-hypothalamus. ↩︎
- Torrico, T.J. and Abdijadid, S. Neuroanatomy, Limbic System. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing: 2022. Accessed August 12, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538491/. ↩︎
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- The midbrain. The University of Queensland. Accessed August 12, 2023. https://qbi.uq.edu.au/brain/brain-anatomy/midbrain. ↩︎
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- Flynn, K.C. The cytoskeleton and neurite initiation. Bioarchitecture. 2013;3(4d): 86–109. doi:10.4161/bioa.26259. ↩︎
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