Definitions

Production of new neurons through the division of neural stem cells; occurs in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb and appears to play a role in learning.

In the nervous system, this refers to change, flexibility, or adaptation, usually in response to an experience or learning.

The belief that the body is physical but the mind (or soul) is not.

The belief that the world consists only of matter and energy and that the mind is a phenomenon produced by the workings of the nervous system.

Müller’s conclusion that, because all nerve fibers carry the same type of message, sensory information must be specified by the particular nerve fibers that are active.

This region of the brain is named for French surgeon Paul Broca, who discovered that damage to a part of the left side of the brain disrupted a person’s ability to speak.

Changes to gene expression induced by environmental factors.

A slowing of the process of maturation, allowing more time for growth; an important factor in the development of large brains.

An interdisciplinary field devoted to understanding implications of and developing best practices in ethics for neuroscience research.

The brain and spinal cord.

Grave muscle weakness

The part of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord, including the nerves attached to the brain and spinal cord.

Bundles of individual neurons contained within a protective membrane; that relay sensory to the CNS from the body and relay motor information from the CNS to the rest of the body.

A neuron located entirely within the central nervous system.

A junction between the terminal button of an axon and the membrane of another neuron.

An active process by which substances are propelled along microtubules that run the length of the axon.

traveling In a direction along an axon from the cell body toward the terminal buttons.

Traveling In a direction along an axon from the terminal buttons toward the cell body

sheath that surrounds axons and insulates them, preventing messages from spreading between adjacent axons.

A chemical that is released by a terminal button; has an excitatory or inhibitory effect on another neuron.

A structure consisting principally of lipid molecules that defines the outer boundaries of a cell and also constitutes many of the cell organelles.

Formed of microtubules and other protein fibers, linked to each other and forming a cohesive mass that gives a cell its shape.

A long strand of bundles of protein filaments arranged around a hollow core; part of the cytoskeleton and involved in transporting substances from place to place within the cell.

The viscous, semiliquid substance contained in the interior of a cell.