Behavioural Neuroscience

A

Absence

A type of seizure disorder often seen in children; characterized by the period of inattention, which are not subsequently remembered; also called petit mal seizure is known as absence.

Absorptive phase

The phase of metabolism during which nutrients are absorbed from the digestive system; glucose and amino acids constitute the principal source of energy for cells during this phase, the excess nutrients are stored in adipose tissue in the form of triglycerides is known as absorptive phase.

Accessory olfactory bulb

A neural structure located in the main olfactory bulb that receives information from the vomeronasal organ is known as accessory olfactory bulb.

Accommodation

Changes in a thickness of the lens of the eyes, accomplished by the ciliary muscles; that focus images of near or distant objects on the ratina is known as accommodation.

Acetylcholine (ACH)

A neurotransmitter found in the brain, spinal cord, and parts of peripheral nervous system, responsible for muscular contraction is known as acetylcholine.

Acetylcholine Sterase (AChE)

The enzyme that destroys acetylcholine soon after it is liberated by the terminal buttons, thus terminating the post synaptic potential is known as acetylcholine sterase.

Acetyl-Coa

A co-factor that supplies acetates for synthesis of the acetylcholine is known as acetyl-Coa.

Achromatospsia

Inability to discriminate among different hues; caused by damage to the visual association cortex is known as achromatospsia.

Action potential

The brief electrical impulse that provides the basis for conduction of information along an axon is known as action potential.

Activation effect (of hormone)

The effect of hormone that occurs in the fully developed organism, may depend on the organism's prior exposure to the organizational effects of hormones is known as activation effect.

Acute anterior poliomyelitis

A viral disease that destroys motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord is known as acute anterior poliomyelitis.

Adenosine

A chemical produced when increased neural activity requires the breakdown of glycogen stored in the astrocytes, may increase delta activity during the next night's sleep and thus enable the region to recover from it's energy expenditure is known as adenosine.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

Adenosine triphosphate is a molecule of prime importance to cellular energy metabolism; it's breakdown liberates energy.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ATCH)

A hormone released by the anterior pituitary gland in response to the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH); stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce glucocorticoids is known as adrenocorticotropic hormone.

Afferent Axon

An axon directed toward the central nervous system, conveying sensory information is known as afferent axon.

Affinity

The readiness with which two molecules join together is known as affinity.

Agonist

A drug that facilitates the effects of a particular neurotransmitter on the post synaptic cell is known as agonist.

Agouti-related protein (AGRP)

A neuropeptide that acts as an antagonist at MC-4 receptors and increases eating is known as agouti-related protein.

Agoraphobia

A fear of being away from home or other protected places is known as agoraphobia.

Aggrammatism

One of the usual symptom of Broca's aphasia; a difficulty in comprehending or properly employing grammatical devices such as verb endings and word order is known as aggrammatism.

Akinetopsia

Inability to perceive movement, caused by damage to area V5 (also called MST) of the visual association cortex is known as akinetopsia.

All or none law

The principle that once an action potential is triggered in an axon, it is propagated without decrement to the end of the fibre is known as all or none law.

Allylglycine

A drug that inhibits the activity of GAD and thus blocks the synthesis of GABA is known as allylglycine.

Alpha-activity

Smooth electrical activity of 8-12Hz recorded from the brain; generally associated with a state of relaxation is known as alpha-activity.

Alzheimer's disease

A degenerative brain disorder of unknown origin; causes progressive memory loss; motor deficits and eventual death is known as alzheimer's disease.

Amacrine cell

A neuron in the retina that interconnects adjacent ganglion cells and the inner processes of the bipolar cells is known as amacrine cell.

AMPA receptors

An ionotropic glutamate receptor that controls a sodium channel; stimulated by AMPA is known as AMPA receptors.

AMPT

A drug that blocks the activity of tyrosine hydroxylase and thus interferes with the synthesis of the catecholamines is known as AMPT.

Ampulla

An enlargement in the semicircular canal; contains the capula and the crista is known as ampulla.

Amygdala

A structure in the interior of rostral temporal lobe; containing the set of nuclei; part of a limbic system is known as amygdala.

β-amyloid

A protein found in excessive amounts in the brain of patients with Alzheimer's disease is known as β-amyloid.

β-amyloid precursor protein (APP)

A protein produced and secreted by cells that serves as the precursor for β-amyloid protein is known as β-amyloid precursor protein.

Anandamide

The first cannabinoid to be discovered and probably the most important one is known as anandamide.

Androgen

A male sex steroid hormone is known as androgen. Testosterone is a principle mammalian androgen.

Androgen insensitivity syndrome

A condition caused by a congenital lack of functioning androgen receptor; in the person with xy sex chromosomes, cause the development of the female with testes but no internal sex organs is known as androgen insensitivity syndrome.

Antagonist

A drug that opposes or inhibits the effects of a particular neurotransmitter on the post-synaptic cell is known as antagonist.

Anterior

With respect to the central nervous system, anterior is located near or toward the head.

Anterior pituitary gland

The anterior part of the pituitary gland; an endocrine gland whose secretions are controlled by the hypothalamic hormones is known as anterior pituitary gland.

Anterograde amnesia

Amnesia for events that occur after some disturbance to the brain, such as head injury or certain degenerative brain diseases is known as anterograde amnesia.

Anterograde labelling method

A histological method that labels the axons and terminal buttons of neurons whose cell bodies are located in a particular region is known as anterograde labelling method.

Antibody

A protein produced by a cell of the immune system that recognizes antigens present on the invading microorganisms is known as antibody.

Anticipatory anxiety

A fear of having a panic attack may lead to the development of agoraphobia is known as anticipatory anxiety.

Antigen

A protein present on the microorganism that permits the immune system to recognize the microorganism is known as antigen.

Anti-mullerian hormone

A peptide secreted by the fetal testes that inhibit the development of the mullerian system, which would otherwise become the female internal sex organ is known as anti-mullerian hormone.

Anomia

Difficulty in finding (remem bering) the appropriate word to describe an object, action or attribute, one of the symptom of aphasia is known as anomia.

Anorexia nervosa

A disorder that most frequently afflicts young women; exaggerated concern with over-weight that leads to excessive dieting and often compulsive exercising; can lead to starvation is known as anorexia nervosa.

Anxiety disorder

A psychological disorder characterized by tension, aver activity of the autonomic nervous system, expectation of an impending disaster, and continuous vigilance for danger is known as anxiety disorder.

Anxiolytic

An anxiety reducing effect is known as anxiolytic.

AP5 (2-amino-5-phosphono pentanoate)

A drug that blocks the glutamate binding site on NMDA receptors is known as AP5.

Apperceptive visual agnosia

Failure to perceive objects; even though visual acuity is relatively normal is known as apperceptive visual agnosia.

Aphasia

Difficulty in producing or comprehending speech not produced by deafness or a simple motor deficit; caused by brain damage is known as aphasia.

Apoptosis

Death of a cell caused by chemical or chemical signal that activates a genetic mechanism inside the cell is known as apoptosis.

Apolipoprotein E (apoE)

A glycoprotein that transports cholesterol in the blood and plays a role in cellular repair; presence of E4 allele of the apoE gene increases the risk of late onset Alzheimer's disease is known as apolipoprotein E.

Apraxia of speech

Impairment in the ability to programme movements of the tongue, lips and throat required to produce the proper sequence of speech sounds is known as apraxia of speech.

Arachnoid membrane

The middle layer of the meninges, located between the outer dura mater and inner pia mater is known as arachnoid membrane.

Area postrema

A region of the medulla when the blood-brain barrier is weak, poisons can be detected there and can initiate vomiting is known as area postrema.

Arcuate fasciculus

A bundle of axons that connects wernicke's area with broca's area; damage causes conduction aphasia is known as arcuate fasciculus.

Arcuate nucleus

A nucleus in the base of the hypothalamus that controls secretions of the anterior pituitary gland; contains NPY-secreting neurons involved in feeding and control of metabolism is known as arcuate nucleus.

Associative long-term potentiation

A long-term potentiation in which concurrent stimulation of weak and strong synapses to a given neuron strengthens the weak ones is known as associative long-term potentiation.

Associative visual agnosia

Inability to identify objects that are perceived visually, even though the forms of perceived object can be drawn or matched with similar objects is known as associative visual agnosia.

Astrocyte

A glial cell that provides support for neurons of the central nervous system, provides nutrients and other  substances, and regulates the chemical composition of the extra cellular fluid is known as astrocyte.

Asymmetrical division

Division of a founder cell that gives rise to another founder cell and a neuron, which migrates away from the ventricular zone toward it's final resting place in the brain is known as asymmetrical division.

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

A disorder characterized by uninhibited responses, lack of sustained attention, and hyperactivity; first shows itself in childhood is known as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Atropine

A drug that blocks muscarinic acetylcholine receptors is known as atropine.

Aura

A sensation that precedes a seizure; it's exact nature depends on the location of the seizure focus is known as aura.

Autistic disorder

A chronic disorder whose symptoms include failure to develop normal social relations with other people, impaired development of communicative ability, and repetitive, stereotyped movements is known as autistic disorder.

Autonomic nervous system (ANS)

The portion of the peripheral nervous system that control the body's vegetative functions is known as autonomic nervous system.

Autoradiography

A procedure that locates radioactive substances in the slice of tissue; the radiation exposes a photographic emulsion or a piece of film that covers the tissue is known as autoradiography.

Autoreceptors

A receptor molecule located on the neuron that responds to the neurotransmitter released by that neuron is known as autoreceptor.

Auto to pagnosia

Inability to name body parts or to identify body parts that another person names is known as auto to pagnosia.

Axon

A long, thin, cylindrical structure that conveys information from the soma of the neuron to it's terminal buttons is known as axon.

Axonal varicosity

An enlarged region along the length of an axon that contains synaptic vesicles and releases a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator is known as axonal varicosity.

Axoplasmic transport

An active process by which substances are propelled along microtubules that run the length of the axon is known as axoplasmic transport.

B

Basal ganglia

A group of subcortical nuclei in the telencephalon, the caudate nucleus, the global pallidus, and the putamen; important part of the motor system is known as basal ganglia.

Basic rest activity cycle

A 90 minute cycle (in humans) of waxing and waning alertness, controlling by the biological clock in the caudal brain stem; controls cycle of REM sleep and slow wave sleep is known as basic rest activity cycle.

Basilar membrane

A membrane in the cochlea of the inner ear, contains the organ of the corti is known as basilar membrane.

Benign tumor

A non cancerous (literally "harmless") tumor; has a distinct border and can not metastasize is known as benign tumor.

Benzodiazepine

A category of anxiolytic drugs; an indirect agonist for the GABA receptor is known as benzodiazepine.

Beta activity

Irregular electrical activity of 13-30 Hz recorded from the brain; generally associated with the state of arousal is known as beta activity.

Bicuculline

A direct antagonist for the GABA binding site on the GABA receptor is known as bicuculline.

Binding site

The location on the receptor protein to which a ligand binds is known as binding site.

Bipolar cell

A bipolar neuron located in the middle layer of the retina, conveying information from the photoreceptor to the ganglion cells is known as bipolar cell.

Bipolar disorder

A serious mood disorder characterized by cyclical periods of mania and depression is known as bipolar disorder.

Bipolar neuron

A neuron with one axon and one dendrite attached to it's soma is known as bipolar neuron.

Black widow spider venom

A poison produced by the black widow spider by that triggers the release of acetylcholine is known as black widow spider venom.

Blood brain barrier

A semi-permeable barrier between the blood and the brain produced by the cells in the walls of the brain's capillaries is known as blood brain barrier.

Botulinum toxin

An acetylcholine antagonist; prevents release by terminal buttons is known as botulinum toxin.

Brain stem

The stem of the brain, from the medulla of the diencephalon, excluding the cerebellum is known as brain stem.

Bregma

The junction of the sagittal and coronal sutures of the skull; often used as reference point for stereotaxic brain surgery is known as bregma.

Brightness

One of the perceptual dimensions of color; intensity is known as brightness.

Broca's aphasia

A form of aphasia characterized by agrammatism, anomia, and extreme difficulty in speech articulation is known as Broca's aphasia.

Broca's area

A region of frontal cortex, located just rostral to the base of the left primary motor cortex, that is necessary for normal speech production is known as Broca's area.

Bruce effect

Termination of a pregnancy caused by an odor of the pheromone in the urine of the male other than the one that impregnated the female; first identified in mice is known as Bruce effect.

Bulimia nervosa

Bouts of excessive hunger and eating, often followed by forced vomiting or purging with laxatives; sometimes seen in people with anorexia nervosa.