Neural Signaling
This fundamental mathematical equation predicts the equilibrium electrical potential across a membrane for a single permeant ion species.
Nernst equation
Photoreceptor cells that are extremely sensitive to light, allowing us to see in the dark.
Rods
This hindbrain structure sits below the cerebrum and is crucial for motor coordination, balance and motor learning.
Cerebellum
The entire nervous system originates from this hollow, tube-like structure formed by the ectoderm.
Neural Tube
Bilateral surgical removal of this seahorse shaped temporal lobe structure left patient H.M. unable to form new long-term memories.
Hippocampus
The falling phase (repolarization) of the typical neuronal action potential is primarily driven by the delayed activation of voltage-gated channels selective for this specific cation.
Potassium (K+)
Sound waves cause fluid displacement within this spiral, snail shaped structure of the ear.
Cochlea
This chemical neurotransmitter is released at the neuromuscular junction to trigger the contraction of skeletal muscle fibers
Acetylcholine (ACh)
This general term describes the nervous system's remarkable ability to rewire, adapt and reorganize its structure and connections in response to learning, experience, or injury.
Neuroplasticity
Damage to this specific language area causes difficulty speaking fluently while comprehension remains intact.
To maintain ionic gradients across the neuronal membrane against concentration gradients, this pump uses ATP hydrolysis to transport 3Na+ ions out of the cell for every 2K+ ions brought in
Na+/K+ ATPase (sodium-potassium pump)
Sensory information from this system reaches the cerebral cortex directly without first relaying through the thalamus.
Olfactory system
Parkinsons disease is primarily caused by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons located in this darkly pigmented midbrain structure.
Substantia nigra
At the growing tip of an elongating axon, this dynamic structure samples the environment using filopodia to guide axon pathfinding.
Growth Cone
This large C-Shaped white matter tract consists of over 200 million axons connecting the left and right cerebral hemispheres.
Corpus Callosum
This transmembrane vesicular protein serves as the primary calcium sensor that triggers fast, synchronous exocytosis at the presynaptic terminal
Synaptotagmin
Axons from the nasal half of each retina cross to the opposite side of the brain at this X-shaped structure located at the base of the brain.
Optic Chiasm
The caudate, putamen and globus pallidus belong to this group of subcortical nuclei essential for initiating, smoothing, and suppressing involuntary movements.
Basal ganglia
During the wiring of sensory systems, there are developmental windows where sensory experience is required for normal brain wiring, known by this two-word term.
Critical periods
At resting membrane potentials, this dication blocks the pore of the NMDA receptor, requiring membrane depolarization to be dislodged so calcium can enter.
Magnesium (Mg2+)
This electrophysiological recording method, developed by Neher and Sakmann, allowed the direct measurement of ionic currents flowing through individual, single ion channels.
Patch Clamp
The primary sensory receptors responsible for detecting noxious or potentially tissue damaging stimuli that lead to the perception of pain belong to this specific class of free nerve endings.
Nociceptors
The major descending tract carrying voluntary motor commands from the motor cortex down to lower motor neurons in the spinal cord is called this pathway.
Corticospinal tract (pyramidal tract)
The mammalian cortex develops in this characteristic chronological order, where early born neurons occupy the deep cortical layers and late-born neurons migrate past them.
Inside-out development
This specific subcortical complex within the temporal lobe, especially its lateral and central nuclei, is essential for the acquisition and expression of learned conditioned fear.
Amygdala