ACTION POTENTIAL: An electrical charge that travels along the axon to the neuron's terminal, where it triggers the release of a neurotransmitter. This occurs when a neuron is activated and temporarily reverses the electrical state of its interior membrane from negative to positive.
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: A major cause of dementia in the elderly, this neurodegenerative disorder is characterized by the death of neurons in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and other brain regions.
CEREBRAL CORTEX: The outermost layer of the cerebral hemispheres of the brain. It is largely responsible for all forms of conscious experience, including perception, emotion, thought, and planning.
COGNITION: The process or processes by which an organism gains knowledge or becomes aware of events or objects in its environment and uses that knowledge for comprehension and problem-solving.
DEPRESSION: A mental disorder characterized by sadness, hopelessness, pessimism, loss of interest in life, reduced emotional well-being, and abnormalities in sleep, appetite, and energy level.
HIPPOCAMPUS: A seahorse-shaped structure located within the brain and considered an important part of the limbic system. One of the most studied areas of the brain, it functions in learning, memory, and emotion.
LEARNING AND MEMORY: Different brain areas and systems mediate distinct forms of memory. The hippocampus, parahippocampal region, and areas of the cerebral cortex (including prefrontal cortex) compose a system that supports declarative, or cognitive, memory. Different forms of nondeclarative, or behavioral, memory are supported by the amygdala, striatum, and cerebellum.
ACTION POTENTIAL: An electrical charge that travels along the axon to the neuron's terminal, where it triggers the release of a neurotransmitter. This occurs when a neuron is activated and temporarily reverses the electrical state of its interior membrane from negative to positive.
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: A major cause of dementia in the elderly, this neurodegenerative disorder is characterized by the death of neurons in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and other brain regions.
CEREBRAL CORTEX: The outermost layer of the cerebral hemispheres of the brain. It is largely responsible for all forms of conscious experience, including perception, emotion, thought, and planning.
COGNITION: The process or processes by which an organism gains knowledge or becomes aware of events or objects in its environment and uses that knowledge for comprehension and problem-solving.
DEPRESSION: A mental disorder characterized by sadness, hopelessness, pessimism, loss of interest in life, reduced emotional well-being, and abnormalities in sleep, appetite, and energy level.
HIPPOCAMPUS: A seahorse-shaped structure located within the brain and considered an important part of the limbic system. One of the most studied areas of the brain, it functions in learning, memory, and emotion.
LEARNING AND MEMORY: Different brain areas and systems mediate distinct forms of memory. The hippocampus, parahippocampal region, and areas of the cerebral cortex (including prefrontal cortex) compose a system that supports declarative, or cognitive, memory. Different forms of nondeclarative, or behavioral, memory are supported by the amygdala, striatum, and cerebellum.
NEUROPLASTICITY: A general term used to describe the adaptive changes in the structure or function of nerve cells or groups of nerve cells in response to injuries to the nervous system or alterations in patterns of their use and disuse.
SCHIZOPHRENIA: A chronic mental disorder characterized by psychosis (e.g., hallucinations and delusions), flattened emotions, and impaired cognitive function.
SPINAL CORD AND NERVES: The mature central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and spinal cord. The brain sends nerve signals to specific parts of the body through peripheral nerves, known as the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Peripheral nerves in the cervical region serve the neck and arms; those in the thoracic region serve the trunk; those in the lumbar region serve the legs; and those in the sacral region serve the bowels and bladder. The PNS consists of the somatic nervous system that connects voluntary skeletal muscles with cells specialized to respond to sensations, such as touch and pain. The autonomic nervous system is made of neurons connecting the CNS with internal organs. It is divided into the sympathetic nervous system, which mobilizes energy and resources during times of stress and arousal, and the parasympathetic nervous system, which conserves energy and resources during relaxed states.
STROKE: A block in the brain's blood supply. A stroke can be caused by the rupture of a blood vessel, a clot, or pressure on a blood vessel (as by a tumor). Without oxygen, neurons in the affected area die and part of the body controlled by those cells cannot function. A stroke can result in loss of consciousness and death.
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