The definitions of relevant and important words can be found in the below list. Words in italics are not mentioned anywhere else on the website. Most of these definitions are directly taken from the American Heritage Dictionary.
amygdala: An almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the anterior portion of the temporal lobe.
basal ganglia: Any of several masses of gray matter embedded in the cerebral hemispheres that are involved in the regulation of voluntary movement.
brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is enclosed within the cranium, continuous with the spinal cord, and composed of gray and white matter. It is the primary center for the regulation and control of bodily activities, receiving and interpreting sensory impulses, and transmitting information to the muscles and body organs. It is also the seat of consciousness, thought, memory, and emotion.
brain stem: The portion of the brain, consisting of the medulla oblongata, pons and cerebellum.
broca's area: The left frontal lobe region, associated with expressive language.
caudate nucleus: A basal ganglion located in the lateral ventricle of the brain that has a curved, taillike extension and functions in motor control.
cerebellum: The structure of the brain, lying posterior to the pons and medulla oblongata and inferior to the occipital lobes of the cerebral hemispheres, that is responsible for the regulation and coordination of complex voluntary muscular movement as well as the maintenance of posture and balance.
cerebrum: The large structure of the brain occupying most of the cranial cavity, divided into two cerebral hemispheres that are joined at the bottom by the corpus callosum. It controls and integrates motor, sensory and higher mental functions, such as thought, reason, emotion and memory.
cingulate gyrus: A prominent gyrus on the medial aspect of the hemisphere, lying just superior to the corpus callosum and forms an important part of the limbic system.
central nervous system: The portion of the vertebrate nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
cerebral cortex: The extensive outer layer of gray matter of the cerebral hemispheres, largely responsible for higher brain functions, including sensation, voluntary muscle movement, thought, reasoning and memory.
fissure: Deep canyonlike crevices in the brain's surface.
fornix: An archlike anatomical structure or fold, such as the arched band of white matter located beneath the corpus callosum of the brain.
frontal lobe: The largest and most anterior part of each cerebral hemisphere.
globus pallidus: One of the three nuclei that make up the basal ganglia.
hemispheres: The two halves of the brain (left and right).
hindbrain: Area of the brain that consists of the brainstem, pons, cerebellum, reticular formation etc. It is located in the posterior of the brain.
hippocampus: A ridge in the floor of each lateral ventricle of the brain that consists mainly of gray matter and has a central role in memory processes.
huntington's chorea: A disorder resulting from degeneration of the basal ganglia, often associated with uncontrollable jerking and spasms.
hypothalamus: The part of the brain that lies below the thalamus, functioning to regulate bodily temperature, certain metabolic processes and other autonomic activities.
limbic system: A group of interconnected deep brain structures, common to all mammals, and involved in olfaction, emotion, motivation, behavior, and various autonomic functions.
mamillary body: A protrusion at the bottom of the brain at the posterior end of the hypothalamus that
contain some hypothalamic nuclei.
medulla: The lowermost portion of the brain, continuous with the spinal cord, responsible for the control of respiration, circulation, and certain other bodily functions.
midbrain: The interior region of the brain, it is mainly the limbic system.
motor cortex: The area of the cerebral cortex where impulses from the nerve centers to the muscles originate.
neuraleptics: A tranquilizing drug, especially one used in treating mental disorders.
neuroscience: Any of the sciences, such as neuroanatomy and neurobiology, that deal with the nervous system.
occipital lobe: The posterior lobe of each cerebral hemisphere, having the shape of a three-sided pyramid and containing the visual center of the brain.
parkinson's disease: A progressive nervous disease occuring most often after the age of 50, associated with the destruction of brain cells that produce dopamine and characterized by muscular tremor, slowing of movement, partial facial paralysis, peculiarity of gait and posture, and weakness.
parietal lobe: The division of each hemisphere of the brain that lies beneath each parietal bone.
pituitary gland: A small, oval endocrine gland attached to the base of the brain, the secretions of which control the other endocrine glands and influence growth, metabolism and maturation.
pons: A slender tissue joining two parts of an organ.
prefrontal cortex: The area of the cerebral cortex that control the ability to make judgments and to map out plans for problem solving.
primary visual cortex: The area of the brain that reconstructs visual images coming from the eye so that selected features can be recognized.
premotor cortex: The area of the cerebral cortex that controls our most delicate motions.
putamen: One of the three major nuclei that make up the basal ganglia.
receptive aphasia: A condition in which the patient has understanding language.
reticular formation: A diffuse network of nerve fibers and cells in parts of the brainstem, important in regulating consciousness or wakefulness.
schizophrenia: Any of a group of psychotic disorders usually characterized by withdrawal from reality, illogical patterns of thinking, delusions, and hallucinations, and accompanied in varying degrees by other emotional, behavioral, or intellectual disturbances.
septum: A thin partition or membrane that divides two cavities or soft masses of tissue in an organism.
somatosensory cortex: The section of the brain that deals with the sensations of touch, pressure, pain, temperature, itch, vibration and muscle tension.
substantia nigra: A layer of large, pigmented nerve cells in the mesencephalon that produce dopamine.
temporal lobe: The lower lateral lobe of either cerebral hemisphere, located in front of the occipital lobe and containing the sensory center of hearing in the brain
thalamus: A large ovoid mass of gray matter situated in the posterior part of the forebrain that relays sensory impulses to the cerebral cortex.
wernicke's area: An area in the posterior temporal lobe of the left hemisphere of the brain involved in the recognition of spoken words.
