Neuroscience Terminology

Amplitude

Intensity (height) of a wave // Loudness

Somatosensation

The perception of touch, pressure, and pain.

Narcoleptic sleep attack

Gradual or sudden attacks of sleepiness during the day

ACTH

Adrenocorticotropic hormone involved in stress response.

Alzheimer's disease

Neurodegenerative disorder causing memory loss.

Anvil

A part of the middle ear.

Somatosensory cortex

Brain region processing touch sensations.

Neurocognitive Theory

Theory linking cognitive and neural processes.

Alcohol

Central nervous system depressant.

Amnesia

Memory loss.

Apex

The highest point.

Sour

Taste sensation related to acidity.

Night terrors

Episodes of intense fear during sleep.

Sleep Talking/Walking

Engaging in activities while asleep.

Amygdala

Brain structure linked to emotion processing.

Audition

The sense of hearing.

Stirrup

A bone in the middle ear.

Norepinephrine

Neurotransmitter involved in stress response.

Anterior nucleus of thalamus

Part of the thalamus involved in memory.

Amyloid protein

Protein associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Base

The bottom or foundation of something.

Substance P

Neuropeptide involved in pain perception.

NREM sleep

Non-rapid eye movement sleep stage.

Antisocial personality disorder

Personality disorder characterized by disregard for others.

Anterograde

Moving forward in time.

Basilar membrane

Structure in the cochlea involved in hearing.

Superior olive

Brainstem nucleus involved in sound localization.

OEG

Olfactory ensheathing glia.

Autonomic failure

Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system.

Basal ganglia

Brain structures involved in motor control.

Bitter

Taste sensation associated with bitterness.

Sweet

Taste sensation associated with sweetness.

Orexin (hypocretin)

Neuropeptide involved in wakefulness.

Autonomic nervous system

Regulates involuntary bodily functions.

Caudate

Part of the basal ganglia involved in reward processing.

Calcium carbonate crystals

Crystals found in the inner ear.

Synesthesia

Cross-sensory perception.

Paradoxical sleep

REM sleep stage with muscle paralysis.

Barbiturates

Central nervous system depressants.

Cerebellum

Brain region involved in motor coordination.

Cervical nerves

Nerves in the neck region.

Taste buds

Sensory organs on the tongue.

Per

A gene involved in circadian rhythms.

Behavioral Activation System

Brain system linked to reward responsiveness.

Classical conditioning

Learning through association.

Cingulate cortex

Brain region involved in emotion and cognition.

Tectorial membrane

Part of the cochlea involved in hearing.

Periodic limb movement disorder

Repetitive limb movements during sleep.

Behavioral Inhibition System

Brain system linked to threat sensitivity.

Confabulation

Filling in memory gaps with false information.

Coccygeal nerves

Nerves in the tailbone region.

Thoracic nerves

Nerves in the chest region.

PGO waves

Brain waves during REM sleep.

Benzodiazepines

Anxiolytic medications.

CR

Conditioned response in classical conditioning.

CCK

Cholecystokinin, a gut hormone.

CS

Conditioned stimulus in classical conditioning.

Declarative memory

Memory for facts and events.

Conductive hearing loss

Hearing loss due to sound conduction issues.

Vestibular

Related to balance and spatial orientation.

Pineal gland

Endocrine gland involved in circadian rhythms.

Cortisol

Stress hormone released by the adrenal glands.

Delayed nonmatching to sample

Memory task assessing recognition memory.

Engram

Physical trace of a memory in the brain.

Endogenous opiates

Naturally occurring pain-relieving substances.

Vomeronasal organ

Organ involved in pheromone detection.

Prostaglandins

Lipid compounds with various physiological effects.

Epinephrine

Hormone involved in the fight-or-flight response.

Episodic memory

Memory for personal experiences.

Endorphins/enkephalins

Endogenous opioids with pain-relieving effects.

Acetylcholine

Neurotransmitter involved in muscle movement.

REM behavior disorder

Acting out dreams during REM sleep.

Fornix

Brain structure involved in memory formation.

Equipotentiality

The idea that memory is distributed throughout the brain.

Free nerve ending

Sensory receptor for pain and temperature.

Activation Synthesis Theory

Dreaming as random brain activity interpretation.

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep stage.

GABA

Inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain.

Explicit memory

Conscious, intentional memory.

Frequency

Number of cycles per second.

Adenosine

Neurotransmitter regulating sleep.

Reticular activating system

Brainstem network controlling arousal.

Hippocampus

Brain region involved in memory formation.

Globus pallidus

Part of the basal ganglia involved in motor control.

Habit memory

Memory for repeated actions.

Gate (control) theory

Theory of pain modulation in the spinal cord.

Amphetamines

Stimulant drugs like Adderall and Ritalin.

SIDs

Sudden infant death syndrome.

HPA axis

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Hair cells

Sensory cells in the inner ear.

Biological clock

Internal mechanism regulating daily cycles.

Suprachiasmatic nucleus

Brain region regulating circadian rhythms.

James-Lange Theory

Emotion theory proposing bodily reactions precede feelings.

Korsakoff's syndrome

Memory disorder due to thiamine deficiency.

Insular cortex

Brain region involved in emotion and self-awareness.

Caffeine

Stimulant found in coffee and tea.

Tim

A gene involved in circadian rhythms.

Kluver-Bucy syndrome

Behavioral disorder due to temporal lobe damage.

Learning

Acquiring new knowledge or behaviors.

Loudness

Perception of sound intensity.