Action potential

An action potential is a brief and large change in the electrical potential across the membrane of a cell. It is also called an impulse. Action potentials sweep rapidly along the length of the membrane and trigger the release of neurotransmitters.

Attention

Attention is a primary cognitive process that requires selective focusing and a filtering out of erroneous information.

Action potential

An action potential is a brief and large change in the electrical potential across the membrane of a cell. It is also called an impulse. Action potentials sweep rapidly along the length of the membrane and trigger the release of neurotransmitters.

Autism

Autism (or autistic disorder) is an early onset developmental disorder characterized by markedly abnormal or impaired development in social interaction and communication, and a markedly restricted repertoire of activity and interests.

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a molecule that is important in transferring energy within cells. ATP can be converted into cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate).

Autistic spectrum disorder

Autistic spectrum disorder is the name given to the different forms and levels of what had been under the umbrella of autism, such as autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, and Asperger syndrome

ADHD

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder of cognition. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders lists three subtypes: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, and combined type. It has a worldwide prevalence of 3-7%.

Autonomic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that regulates automatic actions such as breathing and heartbeat.

ADI

ADI is an acronym for Autism Diagnostic Interview, a clinical diagnostic instrument for assessing autism in children and adults.

Axon

The axon of a neuron is a long fiber extending from the cell body that transmits electrical impulses away from the neuron. At the synapse axons often communicate with dendrites.

Adrenaline

Adrenaline (also known as epinephrine or adrenalin) is a catecholamine neurotransmitter and hormone. It is released by the adrenal gland and is most commonly associated with the fight or flight response to stress.

Axon terminal

In neurons, the axon terminal is where the axon ends and (typically) communicates with the dendrites of another cell. It is also called the presynaptic terminal or the terminal bouton.

Affective flattening

Affective flattening is restriction in the range and intensity of emotional expression, expressed as an absence of emotion.

Basal ganglia

The basal ganglia comprise a group of structures that regulate the initiation of movements, balance, eye movements, and posture. They are strongly connected to other motor areas in the brain and link the thalamus with the motor cortex. The basal ganglia are also involved in cognitive and emotional behaviors and play an important role in reward and reinforcement, addictive behaviors and habit formation.

Agnosia

An agnosia is a perceptual impairment in the ability to recognize objects, people, sounds, shapes, smells, or tastes. Agnosias are not caused by damage to the senses, but rather by the brain's ability to process sensory information.

Bilateral

Bilateral is a term that simply refers to both sides of the body. The opposite of bilateral is unilateral.

Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is a degenerative disorder that progresses from memory loss to dementia, a major deterioration of cognitive function.

Biogenic amines

Biogenic amines are biochemicals substances with an amine group. Common examples are dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.

Amine

An an mine is an organic compound that is derived from ammonia by replacing one or more hydrogen atoms with organic groups.

Bipolar cell

Bipolar cells are a type of neuron that have extensions at both sides of the cell nucleus. They are common in the retina, where they rods and cones to ganglion cells.

Amino acid

Amino acids are the basic building blocks of protein. 20 different amino acids are commonly found in proteins.

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a cognitive disorder characterized by extreme changes in mood, activity and sleep and energy.

AMPA receptor

The alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor receives glutamate at the postsynaptic cell. It is thought to be highly important to long-term potentiation.

Blood-brain barrier

The blood-brain barrier is a functional barrier that prevents many substances from passing into the neural tissue. It is consists primarily of small blood cells and glial cells.

Amphetamine

Amphetamines are a class of drug that increase levels of dopamine as well as serotonin and norepinephrine.

Brain

The brain is the major part of the central nervous system and is contained in the cranium. It consists of the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain, which are further divided into a large number of substructures.

Amygdala

The amygdala is a complex brain structure that is particularly involved in processing emotions and fear-learning.

Brainstem

The brainstem consists of a group of structures that lie deep within the brain, including the pons, medulla oblongata, and midbrain. It plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis by controlling autonomic functions such as breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure. While the brain stem can organize motor movements such as reflexes, it coordinates with the motor cortex and associated areas to contribute to fine movements of limbs and the face.

Anion

An anion is a negatively charged ion.

Broca's area

Broca's area is a functionally defined structure in the left frontal lobe of about 97% of humans (including a large majority of left-handers). Broca's area is involved mainly in the production of spoken and written language and also in language processing and comprehension.

Anterior

In neuroanatomy, anterior (rostral) is a direction meaning toward the nose.

Brodmann's map

Brodmann's map is a map of the cerebral cortex devised by Korbinian Brodmann who defined key brain structures by number. Each of these numbered structures is known as a Brodmann's area.

Aphasia

Aphasia is difficulty speaking or comprehending language and is associated with brain damage. The two most common aphasias are Broca's and Wernicke's.

Caudate nucleus

The caudate nucleus is a nucleus in the basal ganglia that plays a role in learning and memory and movement.

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is programmed cell death that is a normal part of development.

Cell body

The cell body, also known as the soma, is the main part of a cell containing the cell nucleus and most organelles.

Asperger syndrome

Asperger syndrome (AS) is an early onset developmental disorder on the autistic spectrum characterized by major difficulties in social interaction, and restricted and unusual patterns of interest and behavior.

Cell membrane

The cell membrane is the a bilayer surrounding the cell. It is formed from lipid molecules that selectively allow molecules in and out of the cell.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is a molecule that is important in transferring energy within cells. ATP can be converted into cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate).

Central nervous system

The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and the spinal cord.